Has anyone had any experience of gett... - Epilepsy Research...
Has anyone had any experience of getting their driving licence back earlier than the specified one year after a seizure.
Hi robina, just from my own experiences I can relate what I learnt. After a year of no seizures at night then the DVLA may consider returning your licence or depending on what medication you are on they may ask you to attend a test centre and go for a drive so see how capable you are. For myself, I decided after a long discussion with my family that I would give up driving - the reason being is because I know if I was involved in an accident and it was not my fault in any way or form I would still feel responsible over it. I wrote to the DVLA and asked them to Black list me totally for life from ever having my license issued to me again. I had a very sincere and polite reply from the manger of the department thanking me for my honesty and apparently it is extremely rare for individuals to do this. I hope and wish this is not trying to put you off going back driving, it is not meant to at all, yet I made a choice which is now out of my mind and makes my life far simpler to live with on a day to day basis. Best Wishes and hope all works out well for you.
Hi robina,
As far as UK DVLA is concerned the minimum of 12 months isn't negotiable where an Epilepsy related event is concerned. Night seizures have a longer waiting period however. It's worth noting that both Atonic and Clonic seizures (myoclonic jerks or traditional seizure symptoms) count as reasons to avoid driving. Even if you are only having occasional myoclonic events, driving should be avoided. It's a momentary loss of muscle control and a level of consciousness. Whilst uncontrolled you can put yourself at risk not to mention others. The only time I have ever known a licence to be returned within the specified time was the result of a consultant neurologist and GP signing to say that the Seizure was trauma related, the result of a head injury caused by a non Epilepsy related event such as a knock to the head. However, even under these circumstances if the person has Epilepsy then the risk of subsequent seizures increase for an unspecified period of time anyway. The 12 months is less than it used to be and can go quickly but proving trays related seizure is difficult and could Take a year in itself. I understand that not driving is very frustrating and limiting but believe me, it's the safest course of action and not worth the risk.
Sorry it can't be a more positive answer and sorry if you hoped to hear it was possible.
Regards
GM
Many Thanks Ghostmemory for your update - I was relating to my own experiences many years ago yet you are obviously far more up to date with current UK DVLA rules and regulations. They may have changed the rules since then which was in 2001 which is when I was considering going back to driving. Thank you for informing robina the correct rules. I am so glad I have found this forum so the likes of you can correct mistakes I have informed others.
Best Wishes.
Thank you for taking time to reply.
Hi Robina and Ghost memory,
I've copied this web site address to let you know that actually even what you had to say, Ghostmemory, has been updated as of 8th March this year. I am very aware of the rules relating to the nocturnal seizures as that was my problem. I won't go into the details as you can see it all for yourself but it is good news for those of us whose daytime seizures of any kind are COMPLETELY controlled and where we are having purely nocturnal ones.
Hope this helps some of us at least.
Hi ecossaise, many thanks for being so supportive and putting all matters regarding licence's up to date regarding individuals who have and live with Epilepsy. Your Link confirmed all that everyone needs to know.
However, I just thought I would write and add to all the information about Epilepsy and transport. I have just renewed my Disabled Persons Railcard for another 3 years.
For 3 years it has increased from £48.00p to £54.00p
For 1 year it has increased from £18.00p to £20.00p
As for Public Transport I can only say that in my own County they issued me with a Concessionary Travel funded by HM Government with (it says) your local authority. So I am unsure if all local Authorities issue the same to individuals with Epilepsy across the UK as a whole.
I hope this is of use to all who read this and thanks ecossaise once again for the link.
Best Wishes
Hi, I had a seizure whilst driving at the age of seventeen (17). Luckily both of us weren't injured. I decided to stop driving then. I recently had a time lapse of 15 months without seizures, but will still, at the age of 55, not drive again.
Hi lesmal, I actual congratulate you on your decision, I am 53 and in 2001 wrote a letter to DVLC to Black List me from ever driving again. Purely to make my day to day living easier to manage. If I was involved in an accident even though it was not my fault I still would have a huge guilt trip over the whole issue and more than likely stress etc could possibly bring a seizure on? For me now I am actually pleased I made this choice, less stress and more money to support my family. Glad I am not alone with not driving. Best Wishes to all your end.
I had to be seizure free for a year before I got my licence back. Sorry.
Hi all,
I have never learned to drive as I had epilepsy from the age of 14 and am now 26. I could learn to drive now if I wanted to as my epilepsy has been completely controlled for about 6 years. However, I like a couple of you others feel that I would not want to put the life of everyone on the roads at risk. I mean, do you who want to rush back to driving not realise there are innocent little children in cars and even a momentary absence seizure could cause you to kill them? I'm sorry, but I think you are being horribly selfish.
Now I'll get off my high horse and just give you a bit more info about UK concessionary passes. The train passes are as Yenwarp said (it's better to get a 3 year one as the price normally goes up every year, so you save money this way). They entitle you to 1/3 off the price of any train tickets for you AND someone traveling with you ("your carer", but many of us don't strictly need a carer of course, so just whoever is traveling with you).
Bus passes became nationalised 2 or 3 years ago. They are still issued by your local authority, but they can be used on any local buses nationwide. They entitle you to completely FREE bus travel!
For both train and bus passes you will need a letter from your doctor explaining why your condition affects your ability to drive.
Finally, I don't think anyone has mentioned the other rule that if you change your medication (even the dosage) then you will also be suspended from driving for 6 months (I think it's 6 months - it certainly was when I was considering getting a driving license two or three years ago). This applies EVEN IF you have had no seizures for over a year.
Best Wishes,
Amy
To all who have commented... Thank you for sharing such personal and valuable information, especially the link for those residing in U.K.... Regret, I am based in South Africa which basically has no transport system, either by rail or bus... This is a major problem for people with epilepsy who don't drive... we have to rely on others to help us... I miss my driving, but as Yenwarp says, I am grateful I made this choice... My husband has been a great "transport system"... Wishing you all a wonderful day today!
Hi Robina
As far as I'm aware there is no way you can get your licence back inside a year after your last seizure. I had my licence revoked and no amount of pleading despite being seizure free and always having warning of an imoending aura (I don't have fits only partial seizures) worked for getting it back early. This was despite the fact that I even worked in DVA myself at the time. I had it revoked a second time 6 months after getting it back when the consultant noticed damage to my periphery vision from the stroke that appeared on the MRI scan that I had taken about a year previously but that nobody had noticed. The second time I only got it back after a 2 hour driving test in a town I didn't know with 2 examiners with me!!! I presume when I managed to pass that I'm ok to drive. The wait of a year seemed like a very long time but looking back it wasn't really. It was just incredibly difficult because I lived in a rural area.
Good luck with getting your own licence back and best wishes for the future.
Dawn
I wish you all the luck in getting your licence back, I was a Bus Driver until 2011 when the DVLA revoked my licence after my hospital wrongly diagnosed me with having a grand mal seizures back in 2007 in which I never had, for you check the DVLA web site they have changed the conditions but you have to be seizure free for 1 year and not on medication and less than 2% risk of another seizure.
One day my niece suddenly fainted in her college after checkup doctor told her that it was due to epilepsy. Thereafter she has to surrender her driving license. With proper medication, she never faced any further attack. Now in order to get her driving license back, called DVLA customer care qwikfix.co.uk/dvla-london/. They diverted her call to the medical officer and after the thorough discussion on the matter, doctor told her that she is eligible for driving and can apply for getting her license back. After following the proper procedure, she received her license back within nine months.
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