Episodic conditions and fitness to drive
Information and questions and answers from the April 2013 MARVAD standards. This is historical information; requirements may have changed. It does not replace individual medical or legal advice or determine personal fitness to drive.
Conditions in this field
Questions and answers
What are episodic conditions?
The chapter covers attacks such as vertigo, fainting and loss of consciousness. The possibility of sudden functional impairment while driving is important.
Is every fainting episode assessed the same way?
No. The document divides fainting and loss of consciousness into five groups by cause, signs and recurrence risk.
What is simple fainting in the document?
It is a benign event with clear triggers and warning signs that does not occur while sitting or lying down. The table treats it as a separate group.
Which factors suggest increased recurrence risk?
The chapter mentions an abnormal ECG, heart disease, injury during fainting, an event while driving, sitting or lying down, and recurrent events.
Is the period without driving the same for private and professional licences?
No. The tables specify different periods by event group and licence type. Identify the correct entry before selecting a waiting period.
What does the table say about cough syncope?
The entry includes event-free periods and treatment and control of the respiratory condition. It also includes smoking, BMI and reflux conditions where relevant.
What does the table say about BPPV?
A restricted recommendation may be considered after at least one month without vertigo for a private licence and two months for a professional licence, subject to a normal neurological or ENT examination.
What does it say about labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis?
The table specifies at least three months without vertigo for a private licence and six months for a professional licence, with a normal neurological or ENT examination.
How is Ménière’s disease addressed for a private licence?
A restricted recommendation may be considered following individual assessment with an ENT specialist and annual review of symptoms affecting driving.
What is specified for Ménière’s disease and a professional licence?
For consideration of a restricted recommendation, the table specifies at least 12 months without vertigo since the last event and neurological or ENT assessment of sustained remission.
View original source
Original source scan in Hebrew. The translated explanatory text is provided on this page. The historical 2013 standards may have changed and do not determine your individual fitness to drive.
Vertigo
Syncope and loss of consciousness
Simple fainting
Unexplained fainting with low risk
Unexplained fainting with high risk
Loss of consciousness with seizure signs
Loss of consciousness without clinical data
Cough syncope
Labyrinthitis
Vestibular neuritis
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo — BPPV
Ménière’s disease
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