2017 Volume 29 Issue 2 Pages 125-131
In Japan, people with epilepsy (PWE) are thought to have fitness to drive when their seizures are 1) free for five years or over, 2) free for two years or over and the physician in charge have approved, 3) simple partial seizures only, and 4) seizures restricted during sleep. In 2014, the amended Road Traffic Act, including new roles such as penalty for false statement in a disease condition declaration form, new voluntary notification system for a doctor who is aware that a person is at high risk for traffic accident and in possession of a driver license, and the other new provisions was enacted. Additional resolutions to examine in the future including review of the law after five years, consideration so as not to create discrimination due to diseases, etc are decided. At the same time, the new Criminal Law Act, including prison sentence of up to 15 years for persons, who under the influence of specific diseases or drugs, causing death or injury to other persons by driving a motor vehicle, was also enacted. In many developed countries, shorter period of seizure freedom, usually one year, is required for the fitness to drive for PWE. In 2015, the Japan Epilepsy Society and the National Police Agency conducted together an actual condition survey on traffic accidents by PWE. The results showed that the accident ratio of PWE was 1.16, which is lower than that of young male and of geriatric people. The data shows that the severe requirement for the fitness to drive for PWE in Japan should be reexamined.
