EPILEPSY AND DRIVING

THE STATUS OF THE EPILEPTIC APPLICANT FOR A DRIVING LICENSE HAS ALTERED IN ENGLAND FROM COMPLETE DENIAL BEFORE 1948, THROUGH A PARTIAL APPROVAL SUBJECT TO MEDICAL ASSESSMENT, AND A CONDITIONAL RIGHT TO DRIVE IN 1970. SURVEYS MADE OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD SHOW THAT 42.3% OF FRANKLY EPILEPTIC MALE PATIENTS HAVE OBTAINED LICENSES BY SUPPRESSION OF DIAGNOSIS. REGULATIONS OF 1970 RESULTED IN AN INCREASE FROM 28% TO 88% OF APPLICANTS ACCEPTED FOLLOWING SELF DISCLOSURE. THE INCIDENCE OF NOCTURNAL EPILEPSY TO WHICH SPECIAL EXEMPTION IS GIVEN INCREASED TO 18%, AND IT IS THE OPINION THAT THE POLICY OF SELF- DISCLOSURE OF DIAGNOSIS HAS BEEN IMPRACTICAL. MEDICAL EXAMINATION FOR LICENSES TO DRIVE PUBLIC SERVICE AND HEAVY VEHICLES IS COMPULSORY; THIS REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO PRIVATE LICENSES, AND INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE MADE OF THE EPILEPTIC WITHIN A CATEGORY OF MEDICALLY RESTRICTED DRIVERS AS IS THE RULING IN SOME PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHOUT SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE DIFFERENTIATION FROM THE OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS WHICH AFFECT CONTROL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE. /AUTHOR/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00071447
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 3, pp 12-14
• Authors:
  • Maxwell, R D
  • Leyshon, G E
• Publication Date: 1971-7-3

Media Info

• Serial:
  • BMJ
  • Publisher: British Medical Association
  • ISSN: 0959-8138
  • Serial URL: http://www.bmj.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driver licenses; Driving tests; Epilepsy
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223616
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 25 1971 12:00AM