More of a Wwyd - friends son with epilepsy

[raspberryberet7]

My friends 17 yr old son has epilepsy and has it bad. For conte t he has had more than 8 seizures this year so far. He’s not supposed to drive until he is one year seizures free however he is continuing to have lessons. I’ve begged her not to let him as he is putting not only himself at danger but everyone else in the vicinity but she just won’t listen. She says he just wants to pass his test then he will stop. I really don’t know what to do it’s so dangerous

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

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.

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

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?

”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.

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.

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.

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.

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 😡

Report to DVLA and the driving instructor. I’m sure they wouldn’t be happy being driven round by someone with unstable epilepsy (risk to life/health and the car - which is their business!). If the boy’s health improves he can learn to drive later.

I know. Words fail me at this level of stupidity
CopperWhite's, Barrenfieldoffucks', Hm17's and EatMoreChocolate44's comments are beyond stupid. It is to be hoped that they aren't drivers as they have so little grasp of the law.

I don’t believe generally in reporting people to officialdom; but a solicitor told me once, he was working on a case, where the pharmacist gave a person with epilepsy, the wrong doses of medication. The customer had a seizure while driving and 5 people were killed in the accident. I wouldn’t turn a blind eye, to someone, with uncontrolled epilepsy, driving without them informing DVLA or the driving instructor. People can get aggressive during a seizure - the driver could do anything to the driving instructor, who’d be fighting him off and trying to control the car!

https://contact.dvla.gov.uk/driver/capture-transaction-type?locale=en

Drivers medical

I have concerns over someone's fitness to drive

Then put details in

Ridiculously irresponsible of both the woman and her son, who is old enough to know better and not be a selfish twat! He doesn't need a license, he's not fit to drive. Clearly they both intend on him driving illegally, since that's what they're already doing. I'd report everywhere I could and would feel good about it. There way a guy last year who had an epilectic fit while driving and killed his 14 year old son. He lived, though. It's an unnecessary gamble with other peoples' lives. Risk your own if you want to, but don't you dare take other people out because of your own stupidity and selfishness.

As others have said, you absolutely need to report this to the DVLA. Please don't be in any doubt, you're doing the right thing.

Not being able to drive due to epilepsy is shit; I'm struggling to get past 1 month seizure free let alone 1 year and I cry every time my clock resets, it's so limiting and having had a licence and lost it, it feels extra painful. Even still, I'd never contemplate getting behind the wheel until I'm a year seizure free, because it's people's lives at risk.

Ignore the idiots blabbering on about "dual controls"; they don't have a clue what they're talking about.

But they can brake hard and stop the car so it is actually fine.

OP you sound really over invested and your language is hyperbolic at best. I think you need to take a step back.

They've got next to no grasp of reality either!

And if his hands are locked on the steering wheel? Or if he's slumped over it?

And if he then passes his test, is it safe to then not get behind the wheel for potentially years, as a totally new driver?

Not just illegal but downright irresponsible.

No, it bloody isn't fine!!!!!

Indeed, I can’t make up my mind as to whether it is wilfully stupidity or dumb ignorance. Also presumably have never seen someone suffer any type of seizure from dribbling and mild incoherence to a full blown grand mal… my best friend’s DH hasn’t been to drive for 12 years due to the epilepsy.

Yeah he shouldn’t be driving but the point of the controls (which was the point of my post) is that this is in the issue of an emergency happening - seizures (not known), dangerous driving, panic attack etc.

Well then maybe you shouldn't be driving either.

@Hiptothisjive "But they can brake hard and stop the car so it is actually fine."

Jesus Christ. It really, really isn't "actually fine". He's a driving instructor, not a paramedic. Have you ever had to deal with someone having an epileptic seizure? Because I can tell you it's absolutely fucking terrifying. Just try to imagine that scenario whilst travelling at 30mph. I doubt that the driving instructor knows the boy is epileptic in which case he will be thrown into sheer horror and panic - sufficient to kill them both or some other poor innocent sod. If the driving instructor does know, then he's wilfully breaking the law which is in place for a bloody good reason.

it's so limiting and having had a licence and lost it, it feels extra painful.

My OH didn't reach a year seizure free until he was 45. Now he won't learn to drive as he doesn't think he could cope with gaining a licence then losing it.

I can only imagine that those talking about dual controls have been fortunate enough never to witness a tonic clonic seizure.

It beggars belief that this woman can be so irresponsible and so reckless. Is she thick or what? I couldn't be friends with someone so lacking at her age and having a son to be responsible towards.
I knew someone who had an operation which dealt with the epilepsy and was then able to drive for the first time in his life, in his forties. This boy may just have to wait a while, see how it develops or can be controlled, and eventually get his chance to learn to drive.