How long do you have to be free of seizures to drive?

How long do you have to be free of seizures to drive?

In most cases a person with epilepsy can drive provided they have been free of seizures for one year and are certified fit to drive by a doctor. There are exceptions to the one year rule regarding first unprovoked seizures, sleep seizures, provoked seizures and seizures with awareness.

When can you drive again after a seizure?

Topic Overview. If you have seizures that alter your awareness, consciousness, or muscle control, you may not have the legal right to drive. Laws vary from state to state, but in many cases you have to be seizure-free for at least 6 months to 1 year before you can get a driver’s license.

Can you drive after seizure?

To drive, you must meet all normal driving requirements and must have been completely free of seizures for one year, with or without taking anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Different regulations may apply if your seizures do not affect your consciousness (see below).

Do I have to stop driving after a seizure?

It’s important to stop driving and tell the driving agency when you’ve had a seizure because: There’s a risk you could have a seizure while driving. This could put you and others in danger, and you could be prosecuted.

Why do you have to wait 6 months to drive after a seizure?

The Medical Advisory Board will deny a license following a 6-month period of seizure freedom when factors make it unsafe for the applicant to drive. Following a 2-year period of seizure freedom, a physician’s certificate is no longer required. Periodic medical updates may be required by the Medical Advisory Board.

Can you drive if you are on seizure medication?

If your doctor has diagnosed you as having a seizure disorder, states will require that you are treated for that condition with medication designed to prevent seizures and that your seizures are under reliable control before the state will allow you to drive.

Can you drive with partial seizures?

Some states will license people with seizure disorders if they only have seizures during sleep (nocturnal epilepsy), or if they have simple partial seizures in which they remain aware and able to drive safely. Some people have a long aura (or warning) before a seizure, allowing them to pull safely off the road.

Can an EEG show a past seizure?

The likelihood of recording a seizure during a routine EEG is small. The EEG generally records brain waves between seizures, called interictal brain waves. These waves may or may not show evidence of seizure activity.

When do you regain your right to drive after a seizure?

Often, one of the major motivators for antiepileptic drug (AED) adherence is to attain seizure control in order to regain the right to drive. In the United States, each state has specific requirements regarding the number of months that someone must remain seizure-free before driving after a diagnosis of epilepsy. [ 1]

How long do you have to wait before driving with epilepsy?

Epilepsy and Driving. This requirement ranges from as few as 3 months in Arizona to as long as 18 months in Rhode Island. These waiting periods are based on the principle that the more months without a seizure, the more likely it is that seizure control has been attained.

How long do you have to wait before having a seizure?

This requirement ranges from as few as 3 months in Arizona to as long as 18 months in Rhode Island. These waiting periods are based on the principle that the more months without a seizure, the more likely it is that seizure control has been attained. The diagnosis of epilepsy requires “two unprovoked seizures more than 24 hours apart.” [ 2]

Can a person have a seizure while driving?

The issue of driving and epilepsy is a knotty one. A seizure that occurs while operating a motor vehicle may result in injury or death to the driver, passengers, pedestrians, or others on the road—with civil, emotional, and possibly criminal implications.