Epileptics Barred From Driving

Report: Vivien Chan

John has been acquitted but one question remains: If he suffers from epileptic seizures every few weeks, how could he be a school bus driver?

And how did he get his driving licence?

The New Paper contacted the transport company that hired him several times, but it did not get back to us by press time.

A police spokesman told The New Paper that under Section 37 of the Road Traffice Act, anyone suffering from "disease or physical disability" must declare his illness when he applies for a driving licence.

"They will not be allowed to learn driving under rule 8 of the Road Traffic Act (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) and are not allowed to drive any public transport," he said.

If a person holding a driving licence is believed to be suffering from a disease or physical disability, and his driving is likely to be a source of danger to the public, the police may revoke his driving licence, he added.

When The New Paper asked John why he drove and applied to become a bus driver despite his condition, he could not reply.

Dr Nigel Tan, senior consultant neurologist at the National Neuroscience Institute, said that when doctors diagnose patients as having epilepsy, they are bound by medical confidentiality and do not inform the authorities.

It is up to the patient to declare the condition, he said.