Navigating Transportation When You Have Epilepsy
It’s tough to see my daughter get to the age where she could be getting a driver's license, but knowing that she may never be able to because of her seizures. And I know that it’s even harder for her to deal with, because like so many other kids her age, she wants to start being more independent!
But when you have epilepsy, the concept of transportation can get complicated. And in many cases, you have to work around your condition.
Don’t worry though, it isn’t all negative. There are plenty of ways you can get around without a driver’s license, especially in 2024. And I want to talk about some of those ways today, not only to give people with epilepsy some ideas; but also to give people without epilepsy a little glimpse into life with the condition.
First of all…
Can you drive if you have epilepsy?
Some people with epilepsy can drive! But the catch is that they have to have their seizures completely controlled, typically for a certain period of time before applying for the license (for added assurance). This varies by state, but usually the person will have to be seizure free for 3-6 months; and sometimes up to a year!
Additionally, many states require that the person gets a recommendation from their doctor as well. And even if they are seizure free, if the doctor doesn’t feel they’re fit to drive… then the person may be denied the license.
So not only does having epilepsy make obtaining a driver’s license considerably more complicated, but it can keep individuals from getting a license altogether.
Of course, these rules make sense. After all, they’re created to keep everyone safe (including the person with epilepsy). But that doesn’t make it any easier on the people who have their transportation limited.
My daughter is likely never going to have a driver’s license. Because her seizures are quite hard to control, for multiple reasons which I’ve talked about in other posts.
Restricted Licenses
Now, in certain states, it may be possible for an epileptic person to obtain a restricted driver’s license. One that will allow them to drive during certain scenarios, but not others. And of course, this comes with a whole other set of rules and requirements.
For instance, some of the restrictions could be…
That the person can only drive during an emergency
That they can only drive to work and back
Or that they can only drive during a certain time of the day
And reasons that a restricted license might be considered include the following…
That the person doesn’t have seizures that affect things like their movement, overall awareness, or consciousness
That the person only has nocturnal seizures, or seizures during a certain time in the day
Or that the person always has “auras” that can warn them of an approaching seizure
As you can see though, not everyone will be able to qualify for a restricted license either. So in that case, people with epilepsy may need to look into alternative forms of transportation…
Aside from driving, how can people with epilepsy get around?
There are many different ways that someone can get around without a car/driver’s license. But a lot of it depends on where you live, and what sort of public transportation is around you.
Here are some examples of alternative forms of transportation…
Ride Shares and Taxis - In the past decade or so, ride shares have become quite popular and for good reason. Through services like Uber, people can now catch a ride to their destination for a small fee. And the drivers who sell their services can make a nice income off it.
People with epilepsy might find rideshares helpful, but it’s important to note that this can get costly! And furthermore, there aren’t always a lot of options for rideshares in rural communities.
Alternatively, those with epilepsy might be able to take advantage of taxis if they live in bigger cities! But once again, these are rarely present in rural areas.
Carpooling - Similarly to ride shares and taxis, sometimes carpooling could provide a means of transportation; specifically if the person with epilepsy has a lot of friends or family in the area.
But the downside of this is that it still leaves the person relying on others for transportation, and may even make them feel like a burden to others. Plus, this isn’t the most reliable form of transport; because arrangements like this can change swiftly.
Buses, Trains, And Subways - Buses, trains, and subways are some other options. And the benefits of these forms of transportation is that they’re cost effective, as well as reliable since they run every day! So a person can easily mold their travel schedule around the schedule of the bus/train/subway they use.
The downsides are that these modes of transport are often crowded, you may have to wait until certain times to take them, and they may not always stop right where you need to be. Meaning that many people will have to walk from the bus/train/subway stop to their precise destination at the end of the ride.
Usually that wouldn’t present much of an issue, but there are always safety concerns. Especially if the person has seizures that render them unconscious, if they’re traveling at night, or if they’re female.
Walking - Most cities are pedestrian friendly, so aside from the concerns I just listed in regards to walking from place to place… this could provide an additional form of transportation for someone with epilepsy. As long as their destination isn’t very far.
But once again, in rural towns (such as the one where my daughter and I live), it’s often hard to just walk around. And you really do need another form of transport.
Riding A Bike - Lastly, in some places, riding a bike could be a faster way to get around if you don’t want to walk. But this is obviously a very physically demanding task, and it may not be safe for someone who has seizures that affect their consciousness or movement.
Plus, things like the weather could play a huge role on whether this is an option on any given day. So it isn’t the most reliable form of transport.
Final Thoughts
Many people take their transportation for granted, but as you can see, it isn’t always simple for those certain conditions. Especially if they live in a small town or rural area!
However, just because it isn’t simple… doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. So I hope if anyone was reading this article and looking for epilepsy-safe transportation ideas, that they found some. Even if they need to combine several of the ideas, using each for different occasions!
And if you’d like to learn more about epilepsy, please feel free to read some of my other articles.
Sources
https://www.transportation.gov/mission/health/Rural-Public-Transportation-Systems
https://www.capitalone.com/bank/money-management/life-events/living-without-a-car/
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