Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T14:47:54.928Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Epilepsy and Driving

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Frederick Andermann ,
G.M. Rémillard ,
Benjamin G. Zifkin ,
Antonio G. Trottier  and
Patrice Drouin
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The risk of losing consciousness while driving a motor vehicle and the need to drive a car in today's society are opposing forces at play in determining the fitness and ability of people with epilepsy to drive. We must remember that until some 20 years ago, in Canada and in many other countries people with epilepsy were not allowed to drive. A movement by Canadian neurologists to establish guidelines which would enable people with controlled or remitted epilepsy to drive was headed by the late Dr. Francis McNaughton and by Dr. Guy Courtois. At present, legislation allowing people with controlled epilepsy to drive exists in every province or state of Canada and the United States and in many other countries. The International League Against Epilepsy, the professional society concerned with research, teaching and patient care, has a standing committee devoted to the problems of driving a motor vehicle. The Canadian League Against Epilepsy, the national branch of the International League, has carried the issues raised by driving and by the legislation governing it on the agenda of its annual meetings for the past several years. A committee headed by Dr. Guy Rémillard has compared pertinent laws and rules in different provinces with a view to establishing universally acceptable criteria and guidelines.

Type
Special Features
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , November 1988 , pp. 371 - 377
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1988

References

REFERENCES

1.Ysandcr, L. Sick and handicapped drivers. Acta Chir Scand, 1970; Suppl 409.Google Scholar
2.Raffle, PAB. The heavy goods and public service vehicle. In: Driving and Epilepsy, Royal Society of Medicine. International Congress and Symposium Series 1983; 35–39.Google Scholar
3.Taylor, JF. Epilepsy and other causes of collapse at the wheel. In: Driving and Epilepsy, Royal Society of Medicine. International Congress and Symposium Series 1983; 5–7.Google Scholar
4.Crancer, A, McMurray, L. Accidents and violation rates of Washington’s medically restricted drivers. JAMA 1968; 205: 272–276.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Waller, JA. Chronic medical conditions and traffic safety. NEJM 1965; 273: 1413–1420.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Andréasson, R. Illness as the cause of traffic accidents. Journal of Traffic Medicine 1980; 8: 49–50.Google Scholar
7.Fountain, AJ, Lewis, JA, Heck, AF. Driving with epilepsy: a contemporary perspective. Southern Medical Journal 1983; 76: 481–484.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Gastaut, H, Zifkin, BG. The risk of automobile accidents with seizures occurring while driving: relation to seizure type. Neurology 1987; 37: 10, 1613–1616.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Van der Lugt, PJM. Traffic accidents caused by epilepsy. Epilepsia 1975; 16: 747–751.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.McFarland, RA, Moore, RC. Human factors in highway safety. NEJM 1957; 256: 890–897.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.The commission for the control of epilepsy and its consequences: plan for a nationwide action on epilepsy. Publication No. (NIH) 1978; 78–312.Google Scholar
12.Masland, RL. The physician’s responsibility for epileptic drivers. Ann Neurol 1978; 4: 845–486.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.The epidemiology of road traffic accidents. Report of a conference in Vienna 1975. Journal of Traffic Medicine 1977; 5–44.Google Scholar
14.Kuhl, V, Kiørbo, E, Lund, M. The prognosis of epilepsy with special reference to traffic security. Epilepsia 1978; 8: 195–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Harvey, P, Hopkins, A. Neurologists, epilepsy and driving. Royal Society of Medicine, International Congress and Symposium Series 1983; 9–15.Google Scholar
16.Hopkins, , Scambler, E. How doctors deal with epilepsy. Lancet 1977; 1: 1983–186.Google ScholarPubMed
17.International summary of driving license regulations. Published Epilepsy International, January 1982, via G. Gozzi, I, Milano, Italy.Google Scholar
18.The handbook of medical ethics. British Medical Association London 1981.Google Scholar
19.Canadian Medical Protective Association, Annual Report August 1985; 27.Google Scholar
20.Thalwitzer, F. Epileptiker als Autofahrer. Munch Med Wschr 1906; 37: 1818 quoted in Beaussart: see reference 34.Google Scholar
21.Highway safety code. Revised statutes of Quebec, chapter C–24.1. Updated to July 1, 1984. Editeur Officiel du Quebec, 1984; sections 161–163, paragraph 8, section 523–526: pp. 36–37, pp. 106–7.Google Scholar
22.Regulation respecting the medical and optometric guide. Gazette Officielle du Quebec. September 19, 1984; col. 116, no. 39, part 2: 3419.Google Scholar
23.Motor Vehicle Administration Act R.S.A. 1980; CM–22, S. 14 (2).Google Scholar
24.An Act to Amend Chapter 191 of the Revised Statutes 1967, The Motor Vehicle Act S.N.S. 1973; c. 42, s. 3: amending section 251.Google Scholar
25.The Vehicle Act 1983 S. of S. 1983; c. V–3.1, s. 191.Google Scholar
26.An Act to Amend the Highway Traffic Act, S.M. 1970; c. 70, s. 55: adding s. 150.1.Google Scholar
27.An Act to Amend the Highway Traffic Act, (2) S.M. 1971; c. 71, s.77.Google Scholar
28.Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1980; c. 198, s. 177.Google Scholar
29.Highway Traffic Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1974; c. H–6, s. 218.Google Scholar
30.Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.C. 1979; c. 288, c. 221.Google Scholar
31.To drive? Or not to drive? The medical answer. Guide for physicians in determining fitness to drive a motor vehicle. The Canadian Medical Association, Ottawa, revised 1981.Google Scholar
32.Guide for physicians in determining fitness to drive a motor vehicle. The British Columbia Medical Association, (Vancouver) 1982.Google Scholar
33.Beaussart, M. La conduite automobile des épileptiques. La Revue du Praticien 1984; 34–39: 2715–2720.Google Scholar
34.Harvey ?, Hopkins ?. Views of British neurologists on epilepsy, driving and the law. Lancet 1983; 1: 401–404.Google Scholar
35.Statutory instrument 1982; no. 423, Road Traffic Act, Motor Vehicles (Driving licenses amendment no. 3). Regulations (United Kingdom) 1982 (quoted by Harvey and Hopkins op. cit.).Google Scholar
36.Arrow, R, Fabing, H. Epilepsy and the law: a report on legal reform in the light of medical progress. 2nd revised edition. Hoeber Medical Division, Harper – Row, New York 1966; pp. 76–89.Google Scholar
37.84th Annual Report of the Canadian Medical Protective Association. Canadian Medical Protective Association. Ottawa, August 1985; 24–26.Google Scholar