Seizures and driving

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy Forums

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy forums - a peer support community for folks dealing (directly or indirectly) with seizure disorders. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.

Please have a look around and if you like what you see, please consider registering an account and joining the discussions. When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no ads, access to members only (ie. private) forum nodes and more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

S

Shalene

New
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
Points
0
My husband has been advised not to drive after last nights seizure. Can anyone give me some advice on this please? I know he is supposed to inform the DVLA. How will he cope with work if he is using transport to do his job??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hi Shalene --

I know it can be a hardship, but it's very important not to drive after a new-onset seizure (and in some places it's illegal). If your husband were to have a seizure while driving, he could cause serious harm to himself or to others.

Are there other options for him to travel? Carpooling? Public transportation?

Best,
Nakamova
 
Hello, no not really. He works from site to site. He is a civil engineer. His job requires him to drive himself checking on different projects. I am scared that this might seriously affect his work. They would have to employ a driver and that gives the company cause to just appoint a new person overall. I find it bias and unfair, especially because of his qualifications and experience. I just want it to be okay.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You might want to check on your local laws related to epilepsy. In many places there are protections in place to prevent a company from firing someone due to the illness. If your husband suspects that may happen, he should document all interactions with management regarding his employment status from here on out.
 
Shalene said:
Hello, no not really. He works from site to site. He is a civil engineer. His job requires him to drive himself checking on different projects. I am scared that this might seriously affect his work. They would have to employ a driver and that gives the company cause to just appoint a new person overall. I find it bias and unfair, especially because of his qualifications and experience. I just want it to be okay.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't it be unfair to another driver if your husband were to have a seizure while driving and plowed into them, killing them? Remember others. Life IS unfair! I did have a seizure while driving and fortunately I only plowed into a fence, totaling my car. I will NEVER drive again!! And I want it to be okay.
 
I know, I agree, it is far too dangerous. He shouldn't be driving. But I would like if a company can be compassionate and understand how hard it must be for anybody in this situation. Wouldn't it be just fantastic if they had designated drivers for someone in a good job that requires driving? It is far too risky to even consider driving after his seizure. Definitely not worth the situation it could potentially cause, that is certain.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
In CA you need to be without a seizure for 3 months and have your seizures under medical control before you can drive. Other states it is 6 months.

Maybe he can find a desk type job where he doesn't have to drive.

Cheers,

:piano: :pop:
 
I too lost my drivers license because of my seizures. It is a pain but depending on your area there could be other means of getting around. Personally I have taken up biking. This may not be convenient depending on how far he needs to travel. If the company he works for is understanding of the situation, he should be able to find a new role in the company where he can do desk work. That said, some companies are ruthless and impersonal. Just be careful in dealing with HR. They are the gatekeepers. After I had some tonic-clonic seizures in July of last year, I was told that HR had considered firing me for what happened. It's not a good position to be in.
 
Shalene said:
I know, I agree, it is far too dangerous. He shouldn't be driving. But I would like if a company can be compassionate and understand how hard it must be for anybody in this situation. Wouldn't it be just fantastic if they had designated drivers for someone in a good job that requires driving?
Click to expand...

Could he arrange a ride with uber? My family has suggested I try it, since it is available here in Denver and is in many cities around the globe.

https://www.uber.com/cities/

https://www.uber.com/ride/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom