Driving with RLS

[TeddyRupert]

Are you officially allowed to take charge of a vehicle if suffering with RLS? If not surely RLS would be considered as an disability.

[ChrisColumbus]

In the UK RLS is not notifiable as such, but if it leads to "excessive sleepiness" it would be. Note particularly point 3 (my numbers added to official text) as you must tell DVLA if you have:

"1. confirmed moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), with excessive sleepiness

2. either narcolepsy or cataplexy, or both

3. any other sleep condition that has caused excessive sleepiness for at least 3 months - including suspected or confirmed mild OSAS

You must not drive until you’re free from excessive sleepiness or until your symptoms are under control and you’re strictly following any necessary treatment."

gov.uk/health-conditions-an...

Note also "If your condition is not listed here, contact DVLA".

There could also be insurance implications if driving with a condition causing excessive sleepiness.

[Jelbea]

Hi TeddyRupert - I have suffered RLS virtually all my life (81 years). I suffer very badly with RLS as a passenger but I have never had it while driving myself and always feel alert. I seem to remember reading here that others find this also. I see ChrisColumbus has given you the details which the DVLA require.

[TeddyRupert in reply to Jelbea]

Thanks for replies. My RLS can strike at any time mostly during day and evening. Walking 20 or 30 paces normally does the trick. Thankfully I don't need to drive anymore. However I would like know how a professional driver copes. Because I cannot concentrate during an episode of RLS and have to walk. Difficult when driving an HGV at 60 MPH down a motorway

[Joolsg]

As it's not taught or understood by UK doctors, they don't understand the severe effects it has on sleep.The simple answer is that no one with severe RLS should really be driving as the sleep deprivation WILL affect their responses.

It does worry me that there are around 100,000 people in the UK with severe RLS driving on the roads. I'm sure many are employed as HGV, bus or coach drivers.

As Chris Columbus states, you should advise DVLA, but, if your job requires you to drive, no one will do so. And the medical profession will not suggest it because they seem to be unaware how serious RLS can be!

Personally, I stopped driving when my RLS was severe. I didn't trust the speed of my response time.

[TeddyRupert]

Thanks for reply. So you were forced to stop driving. You done the sensible thing and stopped. But as you said there must be so many people out there especially those who drive for living who can't do that. What a problem this is. I spoke to my own doctor over the phone - I might add. Not in the surgery. Can't get in there ! Anyway RLS was discussed I knew more about the condition than him. This is a shocking state of affairs. I suppose the medics have largely got my cancer under control but I have been left with life-changing side effects. So I should be thankful.

[ziggypiggy]

I think we all have pretty much figured out what we can handle driving. Most short trips are fine as we know relief will soon be had. Longer trips are more problematic. Medication is often required. If it makes you drowsy that is not good. Opiods for some of us actually bring increased alertness, which is helpful for staying awake while driving, but bad for sleep. My fear, being on long term opiods is getting in a no fault serious collision but officials determining the opiods were a factor based on reputation alone.

[ChrisColumbus]

My post from a year ago "Blood test for sleepy drivers could pave way for prosecutions":

healthunlocked.com/rlsuk/po...

[Bramble2000]

I guess the point is, if you are ever involved in an accident whether your fault or not, the Police could look at your medical record. It would be hard to prove RL wasn’t a factor but hard to it was. The point is, they will try. I’ve just been through 4 months of cr*p with the DVLA because of a different health issue. They have been a complete nightmare. Look up the DVLA list of notifiable health problems and go from there. There are literally 100’s! I bet there are thousands of people on the road who haven’t declared health issues to the DVLA!

[Baldrick123]

I have suffered from RLS for 20 years and have still driven. I have never notified DVLA about it. If I had a really bad night and couldn't face driving to work in the morning I would just phone in sick. RLS is bad enough without also ruining your career. Thankfully after Covid I now work from home 99% of the time. My advice is, just be sensible and don't drive if you've had too little sleep.

[Nikos64]

I’m not a lawyer and I’m definitely not familiar with UK law. However, as a sufferer of RLS I can attest to the fact that driving and RLS are actually a good mix! When you’re focused on the road and alert RLS stays at bay.

On the other hand I’d never drive while I’m on my RLS medications which is clearly against the law even though I’m familiar with their effects

[Simkin]

Oh golly gosh! I wish I hadn't read this post because I had never in 30 years thought about alerting the DVLA to my RLS.Something else to worry about in the night!!!

[Typicallygaslit]

I don’t have radical RLS problems during the day and feel fine as long as I’ve exercised first, but Buprenorphine makes me more fatigued during the day. In the past I used Temazepam and I never felt that kind of tiredness from it. I have had to use patient transport for long journeys to the hospital quite a lot and it’s very unpleasant. There was a lady who questioned my need for it and basically sent me into traffic although I said I was too tired. She demanded proof from my GP but my GP later said they don’t meddle with patient transport. It doesn’t help that nights before some event like that are usually worse in terms of my insomnia, and appointments aren’t always late in the day. It was a horrible, long drive and I don’t want to put myself in that situation again. The only thing I can do is try and keep the Bupe at the lowest possible dose and, well, I guess I have to use patient transport for the hospital whether they like it or not. I’m in the middle of nowhere, I can’t cope without the car. Luckily driving into town is not an issue as it’s very near and I can usually go late in the day. It’s a conundrum.