It is commonly assumed that if you have epilepsy, you cannot hold a driving licence. However, many people with epilepsy hold full UK driving licences, and enjoy all of the freedom and opportunities that driving brings. Learning to drive with epilepsy doesn’t have to be a difficult process – as long as you take the right steps and provide all appropriate information when asked.
Helping you to learn
First of all, does epilepsy impact the ability to drive? Here at Nayland Driving School, we are firm believers in helping people from all walks of life obtain their licences – including those with long team health conditions. We have taught many people with epilepsy to drive, providing them with any extra support they may need. It’s important that you tell your driving instructor that you have epilepsy before you begin your lessons, so that you are both as prepared as possible.
Applying for your licence
If you have epilepsy, applying for a driving licence means that you will need to provide a lot more information. Being able to obtain a provisional driving licence will depend on the type of seizures you have. You will not only have to meet the specific rules for your specific type of seizure, but you will also have to ensure that you:
- follow your doctor’s advice about your treatment and attend check-ups for your epilepsy
- are able to show that you are not likely to be a danger to the public as a driver
There is a lot of help and support out there, and you may find it helpful to reach out to other drivers with the condition to see how they navigated the process. At one point, they too will have asked themselves ‘can I learn to drive if I have epilepsy?’
If you have any questions for us regarding learning to drive with epilepsy, then please reach out to one of our advisors today.
