Air ambulance hails new driving theory test CPR questions

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has said that new changes to the UK driving theory test, which will see questions on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of defibrillators included for the first time, will improve cardiac arrest survival rates.

The change, announced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and set to come into force in early 2026, is aimed at boosting public confidence in responding to emergencies.

More than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK each year, yet fewer than one in ten people survive. Survival chances can rise to as much as 70% if CPR is started and a defibrillator used within three to five minutes of collapse, according to health data cited by the charity.

As a provider of advanced pre-hospital critical care across the Midlands, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity said its crews frequently attend serious road collisions and medical emergencies where members of the public were first on the scene.

Stephen Mason, a critical care paramedic with the charity, said drivers are frequently in a position to act before emergency services arrive.

“When someone has a cardiac arrest, every minute counts. The actions taken by bystanders before ambulance crews arrive can be the difference between life and death,” Mason said. “Drivers are often among the first people on scene at incidents on our roads and in public places, so equipping them with CPR and defibrillator knowledge is a hugely positive step.”

Stephen Mason.

He added that early intervention can significantly improve outcomes. “Early CPR and defibrillation restore blood flow and oxygen to vital organs, reducing the risk of brain damage and organ failure,” Mason said. “This not only saves lives but also means survivors are less likely to need long-term rehabilitation or ongoing care.”

Public-access defibrillators are currently used in fewer than 10% of cardiac arrests, often because bystanders lack awareness or confidence, the charity said. By incorporating lifesaving knowledge into the theory test, millions of new drivers could gain the skills needed to respond in emergencies.

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity said improving awareness among drivers has the potential to save thousands of lives each year. The organisation is also offering discounted CPR and defibrillator training to supporters in an effort to further increase public confidence in emergency situations.

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