More of a Wwyd - friends son with epilepsy

Some downright dangerous posts on this thread. Driving with epilepsy, FGS. It's illegal. Lives are at risk. But never mind, the instructor has dual controls. Fucking hell 😡

The instructor needs to know because both their life and their livelihood are potentially at risk - plus I wouldn’t be surprised if during the time the son is in the car it invalidates any insurance that the instructor holds, both in terms of the car itself and public liability. It’s deeply irresponsible and selfish of your friend, and it’s a shame if the son is a bit too young and naive to know better. Plus what’s the point in learning now if the minute he passes he immediately cannot drive as when he sends his provisional back to the DVLA he will have to declare his medical situation and they will require a doctor sign off which he won’t be able to provide as he is fitting so often. Tell the instructor and let them take it from there, it’s grossly negligent, dangerous and unfair for them not to know about this.

I was at an aqua class at the gym this morning and a young woman had a seizure in the pool. She clearly wasnt expecting it to happen - this is the thing about epilepsy, many people don't get a warning. My daughter's epilepsy can be triggered by driving past tall, thin trees, where the light flickers. We didn’t know about this for years after she was first diagnosed. Epilepsy can be unpredictable.

I mean, there's no cure for stupid really is there. Some posters actually think it's OK for a guy who's had 8 seizures this year alone to be behind the wheel. Why? Because the instructor has dual controls of course - duh! Yeah, la la la............... But anyhow, back in the real world and I wonder if the driving instructor knows he's teaching an actual ticking time bomb.

”hopefully he has made his instructor aware of his epilepsy “, you can’t be serious?! Of course he hasn’t made his instructor aware, as proven by the fact the his instructor is giving him driving lessons.

Report the instructor for what?

What “due diligence” has he failed at?!

How is he in the wrong for the lad having lied to the DVLA to fraudulently obtain a provisional licence?

I can't believe there are actually people who believe this is ok 'because the instructor has deul controls'

Have any of you actually seen a seizure???
If a foot is jammed against the accelerator duel controls won't help!

OP you are doing the right thing in reporting this

I have epilepsy and was told from the beginning [40 years ago] that I would not drive. Then the law changed, seizure free for 1 year , i can drive. Never happened. I am 53, 40 years living with epilepsy but....I am now 2 years seizure free, even though I am allowed to drive, I just can't, I will always have it in my mind " what if " im still taking tablets for my epilepsy, i just can't/ don't want to learn to drive.

Of course your driving instructor said that, learners can be hesitant and scared and you were offered reassurance.

But epilepsy is an unknown variable, there are different types of fits that have different reactions that could cause different reactions when driving.

There are laws about when its ok to drive with the condition and when its not. And this young lad and his mum are withholding that info from the DVLA. But based on OPs concerns he isnt fit for it atm. And the mother knows because she hasnt declared it and got him medically assessed.

The risk assessment would be to cancel his lessons, also report him - not assist in his driving offence and hope you could react quickly. Same as they wouldnt let him drive after a couple of pints because he mightnt be over and they can react quickly.

Driving instructors are attentive and reactive and thats great but they shouldnt be in positions where they could die because someone withheld info they have a legal responsibility to disclose.

The entitlement that this boy and his mum should be above the law is astonishing

What????? The risk assessment would be “get out of my car”! It’s illegal - as many posters have already said. Fucks sake - the ignorance and entitlement on this thread is next level 🤬

Sorry I misread you are reporting TO the instructor. I can't find a way to delete the message I need new glasses that's for sure!

You have made the right decision and you need to find out who the instructor is to warn them, but reporting them? I would bet my house on it the instructor does not know about this. He probably has a wife and family to go home to just like my h does. He wouldn't risk his life and business like this

Of course it bloody isn't.

Good grief. It is illegal and unsafe. what are you on?

https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/living-epilepsy/young-people-and-epilepsy/driving-and-getting-about

https://www.gov.uk/epilepsy-and-driving

Report the instructor for what? My husband checks the driving licence on the government website, asks if they have any medical conditions and checks their eyesight. They cannot request medical records. The lad has a driving licence which he likely obtained fraudulently. This is on him not the instructor. Seriously some of the misinformed comments on here are unreal

This is taken from Lancashire Police FB page without the video or additional information.

You need to do the right thing, it isn't just his life he is potentially destroying it is the life of other innocent people, if he was to have a seizure when driving.

I have tonic clonic seziures and was not able to drive for nearly two years. A couple of years without a car is better than being dead.

The beginning of this video shows the scene after 14-year-old Ryan was killed in a collision on the M6 earlier this year.

The man in the footage is his dad, Daniel Burba, who was jailed today.

At 12:18pm on 20th April, Burba was behind the wheel of a Peugeot Bipper van when it collided with a tree just off the southbound hard shoulder in Lancaster between junctions 34 and 33.

Ryan was in the front passenger seat and tragically died.

Burba should not have been driving the Bipper for many reasons.

Weeks before the fatal collision he had been told he was not allowed to drive because of a medical condition, having been diagnosed with epilepsy. This condition was made worse by the use of illegal drugs.

Burba had suffered an epileptic fit moments before the collision, aggravated by his use of cocaine.

Other motorists described the Bipper to be driving with its hazard lights flashing and in an ‘erratic manner’ and in excess of the 70mph speed limit. This led to a subsequent loss of control where the Bipper sharply veered to the left, leaving the carriageway to the nearside and up the grass embankment where it struck a tree.

This was a major incident that resulted in the closure of the motorway for a significant period of time. We know there was some frustration at the time, but we hope the public understand that the carriageway needed to be closed

If the seizures are only whilst they are asleep, then they are able to be assessed for a licence.

Problem with epilepsy isn't clear cut "12 months free of seizures" epilepsy is unique to the individual, their triggers, types of epilepsy, what medication works. There are a multitude of medications and what works for one person with one type does not work for soneone else with similar seizure patterns and types. Some people know they are likely to have a seizure, others it's out of the blue, there is no typical.
Tell the individual to wait. I was having a terrible time in my late teens with seizures, they were at their worst, but by the time I was in my mid 20s, they settled right down and now controlled.
Insurance will be alot cheaper as a new driver over 25!

Report to 101 with as much info as you have

Id report the instructor too. He cant have a learners license either with his condition. So the instructor hasnt done his due diligence.

And id report the son to DVLA.

As an inexperienced driver, if he had a fit or earlier symptoms he isnt experienced enough with a car to minimise any incident if it were even possible. He could kill someone including himself. His mums an idiot.

My DS gets a bus pass because he isn’t allowed to have a provisional license.

Are his seizures only in his sleep? If so, the DVLA may allow a provisional licence. But otherwise, absolutely not. My daughter has epilepsy. She has no idea a seizure is coming and they are unbelievably forceful - it is not just a bit of flailing of the arms, but seriously strong jerks which are incredibly dangerous.

The parent should help her son apply for pip and use the money for taxis. You can also get free bus pass with epilepsy.

Are there lots of driving schools where you are? If not, I would be tempted to ring a few and see if they are his

I cannot believe some of the responses on here. Even if he is not having full on tonic clonic seizures what do you think happens during absence seizures? I can only presume that people saying there is no issue with this do not know anyone with epilepsy.

Please report it now. DVLA, police and try and find the driving school and report it to them aswell, they need to know.

I really think they are and to put the responsibility on the instructor to save the day just because they have a brake and clutch just beggars belief. As for the suggestion the instructor would do his own risk assessment.