🚗🆕 Heads-up for all future drivers! From 2026, learner drivers preparing for their theory test will encounter questions on CPR and defibrillator use. 🩺 The decision comes from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), emphasising the critical role motorists can play in emergency situations. Often being the first on the scene during cardiac arrests, motorists could be key in saving lives.
In an effort to boost survival rates for the 40,000+ cardiac arrest cases outside of hospitals yearly in the UK, these new questions aim to equip drivers with essential life-saving skills. Studies show that immediate CPR and the use of a defibrillator can skyrocket survival chances to 70%. 🚑
DVSA’s top driving examiner, Mark Winn, highlights that knowing how to act in emergencies is part and parcel of responsible driving. By adding these skills to the theory test, the DVSA is supporting a broader initiative to heighten awareness around life-saving techniques.
Professor Len Nokes, who spearheaded this important campaign following the tragic loss of his daughter Claire to a cardiac arrest, stresses the importance of CPR knowledge in giving someone a fighting chance. 🕊️ No family should have to experience such a loss, he shares, and hopes this new measure can prevent future tragedies.
The Resuscitation Council UK’s chief, James Cant, praises the move, asserting that integrating these crucial skills into a widely-taken exam ensures more individuals across different communities are equipped and ready to act during cardiac emergencies.
To nail the theory test, learners must answer at least 43 out of 50 questions correctly, covering a range of topics from traffic laws to first aid. Annually, over 2 million take this test, yet only 45% pass. A little extra prep on your life-saving skills might just make that difference! 📚 Good luck, future road heroes! #DrivingSkills #SaveALife 🚘💓