Driving Laws Concerning Epilepsy In The Uk

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which the affected person is subject to repeated seizures over time, which are the results of episodes of disturbed brain activity that cause abnormal changes in behavior. This disturbed brain activity occurs as a result of permanent changes in brain tissue that cause the brain to become abnormally excitable. Epilepsy may be the result of a medical condition, or an injury that affects the brain, or the cause may be unknown. According to UK law, if you have a seizure, you must stop driving and inform the driving agency. So why must you stop driving if you are an epileptic? Firstly, and most importantly, driving laws concerning patients affected by epilepsy are important as they are a danger not only to themselves, but also to the general public, because a seizure could affect your ability to drive safely. Secondly, if you don’t stop driving, you could be breaking the law, and therefore, face prosecution. Moreover, if you are an epileptic, your car insurance might not cover you. Seizures may occur either when the person is awake, or asleep. The driving laws for these two types of seizures are different. If the person is a victim of ‘awake’ seizures, then according to UK law, the person must immediately stop driving, and inform the driving agency. For people who are victims of ‘asleep’ seizures, they are only allowed to drive if they have been experiencing seizures only in their sleep for a period of at least three years. For those who are subject to both awake and asleep seizures, the law for awake seizures applies. Furthermore, if you hold a driving license, but end up having a break through seizure, the law states that you must inform the driving agency, and stop driving. However, if the seizure takes place while you’re asleep, and you have been issued the driving license on the full understanding that you have asleep seizures only, you are allowed to carry on driving. Some seizures are the cause of a very specific stimulus, and are unlikely to happen again. Such seizures are classified as ‘provoked’ by driving agencies. However, seizures are not classified as provoked if they are associated with alcohol, or illegal drug abuse, with lack of sleep, or with a structural abnormality. They are also not automatically considered as provoked by the driving agency if they are reported as a side-effect of any medication being taken under a medical prescription. Driving laws against epilepsy may pose a problem if you require help with transport, because you yourself are not allowed to drive. In such a case, your additional costs of travel to and from work come under the Access to Work Scheme. Moreover, in England, Scotland, and Wales, you are eligible for the Disabled Persons Railcard, and in Northern Ireland, if you have been refused a driver’s license because of your epilepsy, you may be entitled to a Half Fare SmartPass from Translink. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society