3. Driving: Syncope
Syncope — Conditions
Single episode of typical vasovagal syncope*
- Private driving is permitted with no restriction.
- Commercial driving is permitted with no restriction.
Diagnosed and treated cause (e.g. permanent pacemaker for bradycardia)
- Private driving is permitted if there is no syncope recurrence after 1 week.
- Commercial driving is permitted if there is no syncope recurrence after 1 month.
Reversible cause (e.g. hemorrhage, dehydration)
- Private driving is permitted after successful treatment of underlying condition.
- Commercial driving is permitted after successful treatment of underlying condition.
Situational syncope with avoidable trigger (e.g. micturition syncope, defecation syncope)
- Private driving is permitted if there is no syncope recurrence after 1 week.
- Commercial driving is permitted if there is no syncope recurrence after 1 week.
Single episode of unexplained syncope; Recurrent (within 12 months) vasovagal syncope
- Private driving is permitted if there is no syncope recurrence after 1 week.
- Commercial driving is permitted if there is no syncope recurrence after 12 months.
Recurrent episode of unexplained syncope (within 12 months)
- Private driving is permitted if there is no syncope recurrence after 3 months.
- Commercial driving is permitted if there is no syncope recurrence after 12 months.
Syncope due to documented tachyarrhythmia or inducible tachyarrhythmia at EPS
- Private driving: refer to ‘Cardiac Rhythm, Arrhythmia Device and Procedures’.
- Commercial driving: refer to ‘Cardiac Rhythm, Arrhythmia Device and Procedures’.
*No restriction is recommended unless the syncope occurs in the sitting position, or if it is determined that there may be an insufficient prodome to pilot the vehicle to the road side to a stop before losing consciousness. If vasovagal syncope is atypical, the restrictions for “unexplained” syncope apply.