Epilepsy and Driving What Parents Should Know Introduction People living with epilepsy often have questions about driving People with epilepsy have to be extra careful about choosing to drive If someone has a seizure when they are driving
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Presentation Transcript
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Epilepsy and Driving What Parents Should Know<br>
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Introduction People living with epilepsy often have questions about driving
People with epilepsy have to be extra careful about choosing to drive
If someone has a seizure when they are driving it could be very dangerous
States have laws requiring a person to be seizure free for a specific amount of time before they can legally drive
Some states also require a physician to report persons with active epilepsy
If driving is not the best option – there are other ways a person can get around and do the things they want to do<br>
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Teens, Epilepsy, and Driving Driving is a common milestone for many teens
Many teens with epilepsy are within the legal limits of driving
Parents can be torn between giving their teen that independence if they are within legal limits to drive
Other teens are not legally allowed to drive, but still want to experience more independence
Parents can support their teen in gaining independence without driving<br>
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Teens, Driving, and Epilepsy The desire to drive can motivate teens to be more careful about taking ownership of their health needs
Support your teen in taking on more ownership of controlling their seizures
It is important to talk to your teen about living with epilepsy and driving
Even if your teen is legally able to drive and their doctor has also approved them to drive, they may have points in their future when their seizures are not under control and they cannot drive
As the age for driving approaches, it is a good idea to review your teen’s medical care<br>
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Factors to consider Tonic-clonic seizures are not the only type of seizure that can be hazardous
Many absence or complex partial seizures while driving can be just as deadly as tonic-clonic seizures
Studies have shown that the rate of motor vehicle accidents for people with epilepsy is higher than the average rate, but nowhere near the rate for those who drink and drive
To get a driver's license in most U.S. states, a person with epilepsy must be free of seizures that affect consciousness for a certain period of time<br>
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Potential Liability A person with epilepsy may be civilly or criminally liable for a motor vehicle accident caused by seizures
Liability may occur when a person drives:
against medical advice
without a valid license
without notifying the state department of motor vehicles of the medical condition
with the knowledge they are prohibited from driving<br>
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Texas Driving Laws In Texas, a person must be seizure free for three months before they can legally drive
Sometimes, a doctor may want a patient to wait event longer or not drive at all – to make sure they stay safe
An individual can appeal license denial
Physicians are not required to report patients who have been treated for or diagnosed as having epilepsy to a central state agency<br>
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Commercial Driving in Texas A history of recurrent seizures prevents operation of cargo transport, passenger transport and emergency vehicles in classes A, B and C
For a class A or B license, or to have the restriction removed from a class C license, an applicant must be seizure free while off anti-seizure medication for a period of 5 years
Texas has adopted the federal Department of Transportation's medical standards for licensing individuals to drive commercial vehicles interstate<br>
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Reporting Epilepsy Diagnosis to the DMV The application for a license will include a list of medical conditions
Epilepsy or seizures will be on the list
A person with epilepsy must note they have epilepsy
Failure to report an epilepsy diagnosis could result in charges if an accident were to occur<br>
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Driving without a license A person driving before they are seizure free for the required amount of time could be charged with a crime
If they hurt someone else, they could go to prison
If a person has a car accident as the result of a seizure, insurance might not cover the cost<br>
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Nocturnal Seizures and Driving In Texas, a person will have to talk to their doctor to get more information before they can drive
The risk of having a seizure during the day will be one of the things a doctor would consider in this situation<br>
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Auras and Driving A person should talk with their doctor for guidance
The doctor will take into account the types of seizures a person has and how often they have seizures
Follow the doctor’s advice<br>
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VNS Implant and Driving A person should talk to their doctor before they drive
If a person is still having seizures – they cannot drive
Stopping a seizure with a VNS magnet doesn’t mean that a person won’t have a seizure later that they won’t be able to stop
If a person feels a seizure coming on at any time, they should immediately pull off the road, stop, and get home another way<br>
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Driving and Medication A person with epilepsy should not drive if they have not been taking their medication
If a person is making medication changes, they should ask their doctor about driving
When in doubt, play it safe and find another way to get to your destination<br>
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Beyond driving Share rides – sometimes people live in an area where there is no public transportation system and it is hard to find other transportation options
Public transportation
Houston – METRO
Dallas – DART
San Antonio – VIA
Austin – CapMetro
Paratransit services (may qualify) – public services for people living with a disability
Using a bike or scooter (ask doctor to be sure it is safe with the type of seizures you have)
Uber or Lyft or Taxi Service<br>
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Safety when teen is away from home Have teen carry a cell phone
Location apps
Driving monitors
Teens should be taught what to do in case of an emergency<br>
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Transition to living away from home Learn how to get around
Learn driving laws if moving out of state
Epilepsy Foundation website – State Driving Laws Database
Find new resources
Ride sharing
Ride services
Using public transportation system
Safety
Ensure they have a way to get in touch with you if they need help<br>
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Summary Follow all advice from medical professional
Follow state laws
If a person feels a seizure coming on at any time, they should immediately pull off the road, stop, and get home another way
Parents can help their teen navigate other transportation options before they become more independent
Driving is not the only way a person can be independent
