Do you think driving laws are fair with regards to epilepsy?

Are driving laws pertaining to epilepsy fair?

  • Yes

    Votes: 162 45.5%

  • No

    Votes: 122 34.3%

  • Not sure

    Votes: 72 20.2%
  • Total voters
    356

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driving and seizures

Here in CA. you can have a license if you have aura's that warn you long enough to give you plenty of time to get to the side of the road on a backed up highway, so you can have your seizure there. Then as for getting into trouble like my father explained to me. That won't happen if your neurologist gives you the OK to get your license. Because then you got the OK to drive from a brain specialist.
 
This is a really tough question. It's an individual issue. It took a lot of guts for me to even start driving 'cause I was injured in a car accident when I was not driving. That experience left me with a really big fear. I've been at the other end as a victim.

Our bus transportation system is OK. I buy monthly bus passes. It saves me a lot of money. And, I don't wish to send my well earned money to the gasoline companies. I guess I'm somewhat tight with my money.
 
Not driving has helped keep me alive to. Fresh air, good excorcise. All that helps keep you more alert and it gets you out more. Even if it is to the block to the coffee shop. My favorite place mind you.My family kept us walking a lot when we were kids. And teens. I know its hard. I still remember when I was sitting in driver's ed and the pricnciple came in and told me I had to choose another class. I had just bought a black mustang. I was mad.I sold it to my brothers.This is when all the laws were just coming out . And now I have a 10 year old with epilepsy.He hates it now.And is embarrassed by the whole epilepsy thing. I remember. Just be true to yourself. No matter what the state sais, you have to do what is right. Teresa
 
Oh! I love that bike idea. In the "olden" days I did the bike to. But since then, my legs are the best part of me. Wonderful.
 
Well, I'm sure many of us have heard how the older generation 'walked everywhere'. Just check out the one book: 'My First 100 Years'. This is written by a man who is the oldest working person in America. His family owned a farm. There was no electricity. They recycled everything. Their summer 'air conditioning' and regular 'refrigeration' was a brief stop where they stored a huge chunk of ice in a bunker. Everybody in his family did physically strenuous labor, but they also valued reading books as well. He attended a college to study more in agricultural science.

He now collects honey on the same farm. He never drank alcohol or smoked anything.
His mom canned all kinds of food. The food they ate on that farm would be considered 'organic' today.

And, he became one of the first members of the Senior Olympics at a time when society presumed people in their 60s should slow down.

His parents died in their 40s. This guy outlived 2 wives. He had one heart attack and recovered well from it. He walks to the post office every day.

He NEVER drove a car.

So, get that book and read it. It will give a very different perspective of an active, healthy lifestyle.

Is it any wonder that obesity is on the rise?

Personally, since I was NEVER a morning person from meds, I used to RUN really really fast to school to avoid being late. I should have been on the track team.
 
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LOL, I know...Poor teens,I hope I did not sound to much like an old fart. Im not going to say that it is not a struggle. But why take life that way. I did not live on a farm. I live and grew up near Seattle.I gotta kid with epilepsy and have to learn to be cool. If his epilepsy is like mine, he won't be able to drive either.
 
I think all of you are moaning about a 2 year restriction on driving . Big deal ! . In india my driver's license application said " Do you suffer from epilepsy? YES/NO". Obviously if i had ticked yes i would have to forgo getting a license , ever. This has led to a problem in india where epileptics do drive no matter what and do not disclose their disease , propogating the stigma and endangering the public. ( FYI , i got my license and drove only when i was 2 years seizure free). These archaic laws are the ones to be fought. I also agree that drunk drivrs , who are much more likely to cause a pile up than we are , should be penalised more severely. In india, the laws on DUI are so lax you can get off with a 400-1000 rupee fine (10-20$). Only recently have people woken up to the fact that something needs to be done about drunk driving. The laws in India need a major overhaul. To prevent frivolous suing, if you want damages to the amount of x rupees, you need to pay a court fee of x/10. So any poor person who's relative was run over by a drunk can't sue because he cant afford the x/10.
Untill recently (1994) , marriage to an epileptic was not considered valid and was also a grounds for divorce.Employers can avoid hiring you if you disclose your epilepsy. There is no discrimination law against any disability.All the employer has to say is that the job requires someone" medically fit" and you do not fulfill that criterion. They go scott free. It took monumental effort to get the marriage laws changed. You should consider yourself lucky that:
1) you live in a relatively enlightened part of the world where laws are strict but not oppressive
2)you only have to say "i'll sue !" and 20 lawyers appear on your doorstep.:)

I feel the 2 year window is safe and a valid restriction to be placed on driving. How would you like to be run over by someone who KNEW they shouldn't be driving? ( this includes drunk drivers.)
 
btw , i'm not too sure about the bike option. the only time i had a seizure while on a vehicle was on my bicycle on the way to school. i didn't fall. i had an absence seizure and kept pedalling. i crashed into a tree a la " george of the jungle!" :)
 
I wont drive ever and it is not an issue to me. It is to my son. But I can deal with that . He is only 10 now.I think of all the things that are important. Atleast to me driving is not one of them.I dated somebody from India for a while and he taught me a lot about his country.We are very lucky.
 
If a miracle happened and I was suddenly seizureless for a year, I would still not apply for my license, because I quite simply do not TRUST myself and I would never forgive myself if I hurt another.

So for this reason I will never drive:cry: Even though a Motorcycle is the one thing that I desire above all other.
 
driving and seizures

the damn seizures are so nasty when it comes to power. I have a friend that had the right teporal lobe removed. She was seizure free for 9 and a half years. Then one day her seizures just started up again.

Now the research scientists ALL agree that they're just a step away from a total cure for epilepsy. But they say the cure will be totally high tech., not by medication.

Shawn33
 
*sigh* When they manage to cure the common cold, asthma, and diabetes, then I'll believe that they can cure epilepsy....
 
My state is pretty understanding. There has never been a question like drarvindr mentions above. In fact, I find this surprising.

All of my seizures are nocturnal, so unless I am driving overnight - which I never do - there is little risk. A nurse at my neurologist once confided that if I didn't keep my appointments and blood levels checked, however, it was a single phone call from them to have my license revoked for 3 years. I have no problem with this and think it is reasonable.
 
Having went a few weeks again without driving reminds me of how hard it is for those who can not ever drive. I have driven a little bit, to work and such, but that is only for a few blocks and when this d### weather has been to bad to walk. NEVER have I driven if I felt even the slighest bit off.

My wife has been my main source of transportation. This has been hard on her as she does not like driving in the snow and ice. She gets so nervous. Somewhat luckily, she is laid off right now and available to drive whenever I need her.

My doctor is my limitation on driving, not the state. Once I am off the Keppra and on the Lamictal with no auras for a month, I am free to drive again. Just reached my full dose of Lamictal last week, so hoping to be driving by March.
 
No, the laws are actually biased againt Es. The way I see it is, heroine addicts, crack addicts, oxicotten heads are ALL allowed to drive. Even though they self medicate and add to their own problems. But E folks who have to medicated are singled out. That certainly helps with stigmas.

My sons last grand mal in Sept was from him not taking his meds seriously. He never did but hes also new at this. He started at 16 and NOW at 19, after the last grand mal, He is doing great taking his meds. His Dr didnt report him but the ******* nurse did to motor vehicles. The Dr wrote a letter stating IF the kid was on his meds he was fine to drive. Motor vehicles insisted on a blood test, that I had to pay for, it shows his meds were where they should be. Now, today, I get a letter that his license is suspended indefinitly. I can either accept it or apply for a hearing. Naturally Im fighting this and I will get a lawyer as well. BUT whether this works in our favor or not, I will be working on this and it is plain BS. I will not allow drug addicts to drive while good folks with sincere medical issues are discriminated against.

Im really fuming and the way I see it is.. the state is saying that I as their mom would jepordise my kids or anyone else safety. That I need the state to step in to help keep my kids safe. I dont want them or need them in my life unless they want to pay my bills and clean up around the house.

Well, good for them as they just bit the wrong mom on the arse and I am relentless. I will post my successes and failures.

I havent told my son yet. Hes just not up for it today.

joan*
 
BuckeyeFan said:
Having went a few weeks again without driving reminds me of how hard it is for those who can not ever drive.
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In my case, I have never driven and I never will, but I feel sorry for the people that have been used to having their own transport and then have seizures later in life and have to surrender it.
 
PS I Would hope anyone not feeling well not drive. Id hope wed all use common sense BUT it we use the logic that it may happen? No one better drive as some folks have strokes behind the wheel, or a heart attack or a diabetic seizure, some fall asleep behind the wheel. ANYONE can have a medical issue or any issue at any time driving. Thats why they say driving is risky. Im sorry Im just flipping out today.

My daughter did some research and found the way India handles female E and she commented to me. I was shocked but just commeneted to her, we arent in India. I do think it a shame and I am surprised as I do find India progressive in so many ways. UGHHHhhhhhhh.....

joan*
 
joan said:
No, the laws are actually biased againt Es. The way I see it is, heroine addicts, crack addicts, oxicotten heads are ALL allowed to drive. Even though they self medicate and add to their own problems. But E folks who have to medicated are singled out. That certainly helps with stigmas.

My sons last grand mal in Sept was from him not taking his meds seriously. He never did but hes also new at this. He started at 16 and NOW at 19, after the last grand mal, He is doing great taking his meds. His Dr didnt report him but the ******* nurse did to motor vehicles. The Dr wrote a letter stating IF the kid was on his meds he was fine to drive. Motor vehicles insisted on a blood test, that I had to pay for, it shows his meds were where they should be. Now, today, I get a letter that his license is suspended indefinitly. I can either accept it or apply for a hearing. Naturally Im fighting this and I will get a lawyer as well. BUT whether this works in our favor or not, I will be working on this and it is plain BS. I will not allow drug addicts to drive while good folks with sincere medical issues are discriminated against.

Im really fuming and the way I see it is.. the state is saying that I as their mom would jepordise my kids or anyone else safety. That I need the state to step in to help keep my kids safe. I dont want them or need them in my life unless they want to pay my bills and clean up around the house.

Well, good for them as they just bit the wrong mom on the arse and I am relentless. I will post my successes and failures.

I havent told my son yet. Hes just not up for it today.

joan*
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It sounds alot like me. I got my first seizure a week before my 13th bday, and for quite awhile, more than once, I pretty much denied that I was an Epileptic and needed to take my medication. It took a few things to wake me up. I was afraid I wouldn't get my license, but my doctor actually wrote a note that said that I was capable to drive. At 19, I am a very good driver and have no problems with it b/c I control my seizures and take my medicine now. It sounds like your son is able to do the same thing. I grew up and said to myself "hey, this is real, whether I like it or not" but I didn't have to, luckily, fight with the DMV and I really hope that you win your case b/c you make an excellent point about drug addicts. I'm also glad to hear your son grew up a little faster than I did. It took me about 2 or 3 years to get my s**t straight. And good luck, hope your lawyer does a good job and I hope your son gets his license back.
 
Cars that drive themselves...

Check this: http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/transportation/public-transit/ . There are actually cars that can drive themselves using computers. Also there is possibility of doing long trips by putting car on rails.

The vid on the above link is interesting. It shows how one could ride to destination on a "ski gondola". This could be powered by solar panels on the top of it.

Cars are very unsafe and should be outlawed. We are going to have to think of other ways to get around in the next few decades - or we'll be in a lot of trouble!
 
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