I hope this doesn't get to long but this is a real sore spot for me and I
need to vent just a little bit.

Here are my opinions about Driving with Epilepsy. If I am having seizures I
will not drive. If my seizures are not controlled I will not drive, period
end of story. However, I do not think we need to be singled out by the DMV
just because we have Epilepsy or seizures. Oh but we are. I once was caused
to lose my license over this very subject so what it did was cause me not to
seek the proper medical help I needed. It does the same to others I have
known. I went into an interview when I appealed the decision to revoke my
D/L and I got very nasty with the lady doing the interviewing because I was
like a snake that had been backed into a corner. I was ready to attack. I
felt as if I was about to lose my family and everything I had. I was very
angry. I answered every question this lady ask me with a question that she
could not answer. She ask me if I had said I had epilepsy when I applied for
my license, I said do you ask people if they have an alcohol or drug
addiction when they apply for their license? She said "well no we would have
to be testing all of them for substance abuse." I said "don't you think that
would make that number come down?" I pointed to a big a.s banner she had
hanging on the wall behind her desk that said something like last year
xxxxxxx people died in alcohol related traffic accidents. She said "that's
not why we are here!" I looked at her and said "O really, I thought you were
concerned about people getting killed on the highways, so you will just give
me my D/L back and I can leave then right?" She just stared at me. Lets move
on she said. We went on and she would say something about the Drs and I
would say you me a.sholes and she said no I mean Doctors. I said you call
them what you want I will call them what they really are. I was referring to
this one in particular, not them all in general. I ask her what about a
person that has had a history of heart problems do they get to keep their
license? She said yes, what about a person with severe Diabetes do they get
to drive and she said as long as their medicine is regulated there should be
no problems, and I ask her then you require them to disclose their condition
right and she said NO. I couldn't believe the audacity of this lady. I feel
when they single one group of people out like they have us it is wrong. What
about a person driving and coming up to a stop sign or an intersection and
all of a sudden they sneeze. During that sneeze they cannot see what is
happening and I have even seen people sneeze and take their hands completely
off the steering wheel of the car to cover their face.

I ask the DMV this question and it made the fighting mad but there was
nothing they could do or say....on New Years Eve it is just after midnight
and you are driving down the road you see a car swerving back and forth
across the lanes and you say to your self what?   This person is having a
seizure? or This person must be drunk?  They got ten kinds of pissed off at
me over that one. But it is a very legitimate question.

The way the laws are today are such that it actually inhibits those that are
not controlled from seeking out help because they know they will lose their
license. I agree that if you are not under control you or I neither one
should be driving, but once under control we should not be punished for
something that causes far less problems in a 10 year period than alcohol
causes in a single month. That is about the ratio of accidents the last time
I heard the figures which were very hard to find.

I finally got my license back and when I did get them back the biggest irony
of all played out. They were stamped with a "Safe Driver Seal?" I looked at
the person at the DMV and told him "That's strange you folks were concerned
about me killing someone now you say I am a safe driver

I ask one and all that may read this if your seizures are active please do
yourself and all of us a favor and DO NOT DRIVE. However if your seizures
are under control and you are not having seizures then I urge you to stand
up and fight for your rights and stay the battle and get your license. But
if during the time you have your license you become active with your
seizures again go on the honor system and tell your doctor you have stopped
driving until they can get something worked out. I have found that it helps
to be proactive. If you tell the Doctor up front, DR I had to stop driving
because I need your help, they are more willing to help you. And be honest
with them and with yourself, don't drive until you are under control again.

This is only my personal opinion and I am sure others will feel differently.
I welcome comments and thoughts, that is why I posted this here.