Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Driving Simulation in the Clinic: Testing Visual Exploratory Behavior in Daily Life Activities in Patients with Visual Field Defects
Published on: September 18, 2012
A comparison of physicians' attitudes and beliefs regarding driving for persons with epilepsy
Laura K Vogtle1, Roy Martin, H Russell Foushee
1Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, RMSB 338, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 356294-1212, USA. lvogtle@uab.edu
Objective:
The purpose of this survey was to compare attitudes and opinions regarding driving restrictions for persons with epilepsy (PWE) between internal medicine and general practice physicians and neurologists.
Method:
A questionnaire aimed at eliciting physicians' perspectives related to driving with epilepsy was developed that focused on physicians' experiences and opinions with respect to driving issues for PWE. Three groups of physician subspecialties were targeted based on the likelihood of persons with epilepsy in their practice: neurologists, family practice physicians, and internal medicine practitioners. Questions asked about driving with controlled and uncontrolled seizures, predictable auras, nocturnal seizures, seizures without loss of consciousness, patient reporting, seizure-related accidents, and patient justifications for driving.
Results:
Error rates were high with respect to knowledge of state reporting practices, especially among family practitioners and internal medicine physicians. Family practitioners and internists were less likely than neurologists to support driving for people with uncontrolled seizures under specific conditions and more likely to support a minimum seizure-free period before issuing a driver's license and mandatory reporting of seizure information. Physicians who thought they were from states with mandatory reporting were more supportive of mandatory reporting of seizure information and setting a minimum seizure-free period before a driver's license is issued. Physicians having fewer patients with epilepsy were more likely to oppose driving in persons with intractable seizures.
Conclusion:
Nonneurologists have more restrictive beliefs regarding driving for PWE, who are in fact allowed to drive in many states. Nonneurologists, in particular, demonstrated poor knowledge of state reporting requirements for PWE. The data from this study support a significant effort to promote education of all physicians regarding state regulations and aspects of epilepsy related to driving.
Related Concept Videos
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Epilepsy ll: Types
Seizures l: Introduction
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment
Obedience
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...

