The work between policy and practice
Road safety progress depends on more than commitments. It requires sustained action, strong partnerships, and accountability to ensure that policies…
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From 2026, driving theory tests in the UK will include new CPR questions and, for the first time, questions about defibrillators to boost cardiac arrest survival https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-theory-test-questions-aim-to-boost-cardiac-arrest-survival-rate
The move aims to address the UK’s low cardiac arrest survival rates by making sure more people know how to respond in emergencies and post crash response.
Drivers are often first on the scene when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. Data from Resuscitation Council UK shows more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK each year, but fewer than 1 in 10 people currently survive.
Common scenarios where drivers might need CPR skills include:
- road traffic incidents
- roadside emergencies
- service area incidents
Training millions of new drivers will give more people the skills and confidence to act in those vital first minutes. This could significantly increase survival rates and potentially save thousands of lives each year. The programme represents collaboration between DVSA and leading organisations including Save a Life programmes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, plus Resuscitation Council UK.
