As of today, epileptics who have not experienced a seizure or major episode for two years — and have a certificate attesting to that — can take driver’s license exams for cars or motorcycles, after the Ministry of Transportation and Communications amended the Road Traffic Security Rules (道路交通安全規則).
There are about 100,000 to 200,000 people with epilepsy in Taiwan, and about 70 percent can control their condition through medication, but for years they have been banned from operating motor vehicles, Department of Railways and Highways Deputy Director-General Chang Shun-ching (張舜清) said on Friday.
As the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that banning epileptics from having a driver’s license is discriminatory, ministry and directorate officials met with medical experts and disabled rights advocates to discuss changes that would allow epileptics to operate vehicles under certain conditions, Chang said.
“Officials also reviewed regulations from nations that allow people with mild epilepsy or whose epilepsy can be controlled with medication to take driver’s tests,” including the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, he said.
Epileptics can take the drivers’ test if they present medical certificates issued by hospitals or psychiatric clinics to show that they have not had a seizure or major episode for two years, the ministry said.
If they pass the exam, their driver’s license will be valid for two years, and can be renewed within one month before or after the license expires upon presentation of a new certificate, it said.
The amendment ensures epileptics’ rights are protected, but also addresses public concerns about road safety, the ministry added.
However, if an epileptic driver has a seizure after obtaining a driver’s license, they must surrender their license, Department of Railways and Highways section chief Michael Chao (趙晉緯) said.
“Hospitals keep records of epileptics seeking medical attention after a seizure. Hospital staff would contact a motor vehicle office, who would then inform the driver that they need to give back their license,” Chao said.
If drivers return their license after having a seizure, they would be placed on probation for two years, but would be able to regain their license without having to retake the driver’s test — if they can prove they have not had a major episode for two years, the ministry said.
If they fail to do so or do not renew their license after it expires, motor vehicle offices would revoke the license, it said.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or