|
|
If you have seizures that alter your awareness, consciousness, or muscle control, you may not have the legal right to drive. Each state has its own restrictions. Below are each state's driving laws as it pertains to epilepsy. Please note that this information may be subject to change. If you have further questions please check with your local Department of Motor Vehicle.
The laws in all 50 states restrict driver's licenses for persons with active seizures that are not controlled by medication and establish rules regarding when and how a license may be acquired. The usual requirements necessitate that a person be seizure-free for a specified period of time, commonly six months, but increasingly three months or more, and have a physician's statement confirming that the individual's seizures are controlled and that if the person is licensed to drive, he or she will not present an unreasonable risk to public safety.
The laws of the state you live in, not your doctor, decide whether or not you have the right to drive. Your doctor should be able to tell you what the current laws are and whether you meet the criteria for driving.
Before getting a license, you may have to provide proof from your doctor that you are receiving treatment and that the treatment has brought your seizures under control. (Remember, too, that some drugs used to control epilepsy may make you drowsy. If you have just started a new drug, avoid driving until you know how the drug will affect you.)
In general, the risk of having a seizure-related traffic accident is greatly reduced in people who have been seizure-free for 12 months. Driving may be safe for some people with epilepsy after a shorter seizure-free period, depending on individual circumstances. People who always have an aura before a seizure begins are also at reduced risk; the aura acts as a warning, which may give a driver time to pull over before the seizure begins. Not taking antiepileptic medication as prescribed (missing a dose, for instance) increases the risk of having an accident, so it is especially important for people with epilepsy who choose to drive to take their medication correctly and on the proper schedule.
Six states (California, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Pennsylvania) still require physicians to report patients who have seizures to the state, usually to the department of motor vehicles. While these statutes arguably do little to protect the public interest, they have been used to bring civil litigation against physicians who have not reported their patients to the department of motor vehicles, even in cases where patients are compliant and on medication.
Disclaimer: This information is for reference purposes only, please consult your state Department of Motor Vehicles for more information about the laws in your state.
Driving laws by state
A | C | D | F | G | H | I | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W
Alabama
DMV website: http://www.dps.state.al.us/
Alaska
DMV website: http://www.state.ak.us/
Arizona
DMV website: http://www.dot.state.az.us
Arkansas
DMV website: http://www.arkansas.gov/
California
DMV website: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/
Colorado
DMV website: http://www.mv.state.co.us/
Delaware
DMV website: http://www.dmv.de.gov/
District of Columbia
DMV website: http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/
Florida
DMV website: http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/
Georgia
DMV website: http://www.dmvs.ga.gov/
Hawaii
DMV website: http://www.state.hi.us/
Idaho
DMV website: http://www.itd.idaho.gov/
Illinois
DMV website: http://www.sos.state.il.us/
Indiana
DMV website: http://www.in.gov/
Iowa
DMV website: http://www.iamvd.com/
Kansas
DMV website: http://www.ksrevenue.org/
Kentucky
DMV website: http://transportation.ky.gov/
Louisiana
DMV website: http://omv.dps.state.la.us/
Maine
DMV website: http://www.state.me.us/
Maryland
DMV website: http://www.mva.state.md.us/
Massachusetts
DMV website: http://www.mass.gov/
Michigan
DMV website: http://www.michigan.gov/
Minnesota
DMV website: http://www.dps.state.mn.us/
Mississippi
DMV website: http://www.dps.state.ms.us/
Missouri
DMV website: http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/
Montana
DMV website: http://www.doj.state.mt.us/
Nebraska
DMV website: http://www.dmv.state.ne.us/
Nevada
DMV website: http://www.dmvnv.com/
New Hampshire
DMV website: http://nh.gov/
New Jersey
DMV website: http://www.state.nj.us/
New Mexico
DMV website: http://www.state.nm.us/
New York
DMV website: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/
North Carolina
DMV website: http://www.ncdot.org/
North Dakota
DMV website: http://www.state.nd.us/
Ohio
DMV website: http://dmv.ohio.gov/
Oklahoma
DMV website: http://www.dps.state.ok.us/
Oregon
DMV website: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV
Pennsylvania
DMV website: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/
Rhode Island
DMV website: http://www.dmv.state.ri.us/
South Carolina
DMV website: http://www.scdmvonline.com/
South Dakota
DMV website: http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/motorvehicle/
Tennessee
DMV website: http://www.tennessee.gov/
Texas
DMV website: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us
Utah
DMV website: http://driverlicense.utah.gov/
Vermont
DMV website: http://www.aot.state.vt.us/
Virginia
DMV website: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/
Washington
DMV website: http://www.dol.wa.gov/
West Virginia
DMV website: http://www.wvdot.com/
Wisconsin
DMV website: http://www.dot.state.wi.us/
Wyoming
DMV website: http://www.dot.state.wy.us/
Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, M.D.
Last Reviewed:8/18/04
Welcome to the Wiki. This space is created for epilepsy.com members to share their own experiences and expertise to help refine and expand the discussion around important topics.
No members have yet contributed to this topic. If you are not yet an epilepsy.com member, register today to get started on this Wiki topic and the many other advantages of being a member. If you are a member and wish to be the first to edit this Wiki topic, please make sure to login, then click on the orange "Start Wiki" button at the top of this page. Or, learn more about Wikis.
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| DRIVING [Medical Review Board sucks] | Apr 17, 2009 | |
| daisychained | ||
| Driving with Epilepsy | Apr 24, 2009 | |
| milw.girl | ||
| WHY DRIVING AND SIEZURES DONT GO TOGETHER | Jun 23, 2009 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| Complex Partials and driving? | May 6, 2009 | |
| kmf | ||
| Driving after being seizure free for 6 months | Jun 27, 2009 | |
| jerickson08 | ||
| I had a seizure and had a brain tumor, but the doctor wont let me drive. Advice please! | May 1, 2009 | |
| Cory7 | ||
| Seizure While Driving | May 23, 2009 | |
| livelove123 | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| daughter just recently diagnosed with E | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| uhwheresmycoffee | ||
| Lamictal and tremors | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Gina Marie | ||
| I don't think i reacted well.... what should i have done | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| NikiPacker | ||
| Does anyone know? Can seizure medicines make someone exhibit signs on paranoid scitzophrenia accompanied by short term memory | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Desperado | ||
| NON-EPILEPTIC SEIZURES | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| jessica25 | ||
| Normal EEG but continuing seizures | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Amazon | ||
| The Reasons not to consume alcohol or smoke marijuana if you have epilepsy | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| LaurenG1211 | ||
| On Keppra, Baby on the Way | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| rose0527 | ||
| I Have Epilepsy and I Hate My Life... | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| 1nevermore | ||
| Taking Generic Levetiracetam (Keppra?) | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| madhatteresque | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| my.epilepsy.com Updates | 20,400 | |
| epi_help | ||
| topamax and weight loss | 18,924 | |
| alexia mom | ||
| kepra | 18,778 | |
| brian mattingly | ||
| Possible cure for absence seizures | 15,622 | |
| pdl1 | ||
| Epilepsy and marijuana | 14,879 | |
| cjad234 | ||
| Sexual Side Effects | 12,892 | |
| George R | ||
| How exactly do aura's feel | 12,636 | |
| WendyBendy | ||
| MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s | 11,259 | |
| picnupthepcs | ||
| Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised | 9,928 | |
| spiz | ||
| electrical shock in head? | 9,372 | |
| Maggie | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving and Epilepsy | Apr 17, 2009 | |
| lsierens | ||
| Seizures are running my life!! | Jun 28, 2009 | |
| unicorn26 | ||
| THIS IS DEDICATED TO ALL THE DRIVERS WHO HAVE SIEZURES- I KNOW YOU WONT READ THIS | Jun 23, 2009 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| Lucky But Frustrated | Jun 3, 2009 | |
| LindseyMichele9 | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Depakine Chrono (natrium valproate) side-effects | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Ashvura | ||
| Rasmus' walk-off lifts Cards over Giants | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| linhanyi | ||
| nice site | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| lee | ||
| support worker people with learning disability | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| bhing | ||
| my son sheldon | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| gvalegirl | ||
| Meds do not stop all of my seizures | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| wenko | ||
| Death of my teenage son | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| shelly maire | ||
| Summer! | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| Living with Epilepsy as a Teen | ||
| SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| kimberanne | ||
| Pop Pop came to visit me. | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| xaviersjourney | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Inspirational Quote - My Own Personal Inner Thoughts | 7,951 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| my partial complex seizures | 3,842 | |
| Zanna1211 | ||
| Topomax... The Dreaded......... | 3,628 | |
| Dr Jason | ||
| Brain Zaps, tics & twitches | 3,448 | |
| JudiS | ||
| side effects of phenobarb. | 3,013 | |
| pksmom | ||
| Feeling Sick | 2,837 | |
| JBJ1984 | ||
| How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens? | 2,806 | |
| epl_controller | ||
| Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds | 2,777 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES | 2,636 | |
| cmscribbles | ||
| Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures" | 2,555 | |
| teft | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving with Epilepsy | Apr 16, 2009 | |
| lsierens | ||
| teenager driving | May 27, 2009 | |
| babygirl416 | ||
| View all Groups | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Lesional Epilepsy Surgery | Jun 22, 2009 | |
| Chi-gal | ||
| Lamotrigine memory loss | Jun 17, 2009 | |
| superfurry | ||
| Pregnant on Topmax | Jun 16, 2009 | |
| sarah123 | ||
| why don,t they understand, I,m a person too | Jun 3, 2009 | |
| Angela71 | ||
| Living a full life with Epilepsy | May 29, 2009 | |
| Amazon | ||
| teenager driving | May 27, 2009 | |
| babygirl416 | ||
| Epilepsy Surgery Group | May 10, 2009 | |
| lisam11463 | ||
| Dilantin to Lamotrigine & Pregnant | May 7, 2009 | |
| apereira728 | ||
| What is going on here? | May 5, 2009 | |
| jyhprice | ||
| Parent of child with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. | May 2, 2009 | |
| bunglemc | ||
| View all Groups | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Concerned Bystander | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| Bystander | ||
| Everyday Is Exactly The Same | Jun 18, 2009 | |
| Cajunjay | ||
| MY STORY | Jun 24, 2009 | |
| kockykaneshia | ||
| MY NEW LIFE WITH EPILEPSY! | Jun 30, 2009 | |
| unicorn26 | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy does not control my life | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| sweettmaidenn | ||
| Police Officer Discharged Regarding Seizures | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| scott west coast | ||
| JAN 26,2006 CHANGED MY LIFE FOR GOOD | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| kimberly1975 | ||
| Concerned Bystander | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| Bystander | ||
| temporal lobe epilepsy | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| dennyxx82 | ||
| Epilepsy is now part of my life | Jun 30, 2009 | |
| Running Free | ||
| MY NEW LIFE WITH EPILEPSY! | Jun 29, 2009 | |
| unicorn26 | ||
| Track Day | Jun 28, 2009 | |
| danniegirl | ||
| My son's seizures | Jun 27, 2009 | |
| Magali | ||
| Who Knows? | Jun 25, 2009 | |
| Sheri Lopez | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Roiz | 2,238 | |
| kroiz | ||
| Seizure Cat helps unfold my seizure life! | 591 | |
| wenko | ||
| my story | 455 | |
| snoby | ||
| Always Have On Clean Underwear | 427 | |
| crashllama | ||
| Kelly's Life With Epilepsy | 400 | |
| kjcanada1979 | ||
| my brain has died a thousand deaths........... | 382 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| What My Seizures Are Like...... | 363 | |
| javaman | ||
| Nocturnal grand mal seizures (primary generalized epilepsy) | 324 | |
| karalyeva | ||
| Crystal's story | 320 | |
| Crystal11 | ||
| Life......... | 319 | |
| dizzygal | ||
| View all Stories | ||
