Epilepsy and driving capability in Slovenia.
OBJECTIVE
To compare medical evaluations of driving capability of drivers with epilepsy with the rules of Slovenian legislation.


METHODS
Our research included all drivers in Slovenia that were evaluated as epileptic between 1993 and 2002. The results were processed using the standard descriptive statistical methods.


RESULTS
During the 10-year period, the commission evaluated 541 cases and prospective drivers of motor vehicles with the primary diagnosis of epilepsy. On average, these individuals drove a third less than other drivers, moreover only 1.6% of the epileptic drivers caused traffic accidents, which is significantly lower than the percentage in general population. Medical evaluations resulted in 349 cases being recognized as capable of driving, while the legislation would issue a driver's license to only 140 of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Our research confirmed the supposition that drivers with epilepsy are safe drivers and mirror the general population in many of their driving capabilities, thus making it urgent that the obsolete Slovenian legislation is modified to conform to the recommendations of the International Bureau for Epilepsy as quickly as possible.
Bilban
Marjan
M
Institute of Occupational Safety, Chengdujska 25, Ljubljana, Slovenia. marjan.bilban@zvd.si
D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires