First (1st) fit and driving

For the first unprovoked epileptic seizure/solitary fit:

Group 1 entitlement:

• must not drive and must notify the DVLA
• driving will be prohibited for 6 months from the date of the seizure. Clinical factors that indicate that there may be an increased risk of seizures require the DVLA not to consider licensing until after 12 months from the date of the first seizure

Group 2 entitlement:

• must not drive and must notify the DVLA.
• driving will be prohibited for 5 years from the date of the seizure. If, after 5 years, a neurologist has made a recent assessment and clinical factors or investigation results (for example, EEG or brain scan) indicate no annual risk greater than 2% of a further seizure, the licence may be restored
  • such licensing also requires that there has been no need for epilepsy medication throughout the 5 years up to the date of the licence being restored
• if the prospective annual risk of further seizure is greater than 2%, the epilepsy regulations may apply

For more details contact the DVLA, consult the current issue of 'At a glance guide to the current medical standards of fitness to drive' or use the website www.dvla.gov.uk

Reference:

• (1) DVLA (August 2018). At a glance guide to the current medical standards of fitness to drive