Consensus Guideline for the Assessment of Fitness for Private Driving of Persons with Epilepsy in Korea

Abstract

Korea lacks practical guideline regarding driver's licensing for persons with epilepsy. Therefore, these consensus guidelines would be useful for assessing the fitness of persons with epilepsy for as drivers of personal vehicles in Korea. In the guidelines, a person with chronic epilepsy may receive a driver's license after a seizure-free period of two years. A person with seizures occurring only during sleep or with simple partial seizures (that would not impair driving safety) may receive a driver's license, if no other seizures that might impair their safe driving have occurred for at least two years. A person with newly-diagnosed epilepsy or an isolated seizure may receive a driver's license after a seizure-free period of one year. Driving should be prohibited during withdrawal of medication and for 12 months after withdrawal. These guidelines apply to drivers of personal vehicles but not to commercial drivers. (2011;1:1-5)