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New driving theory questions from 2026 could save thousands of lives

 

  • From 2026 the UK driving theory test will include strengthened first aid content, adding CPR hand placement, compression rate and, for the first time, questions on using public access defibrillators (AEDs).

     

  • Teaching CPR and AED use to learner drivers could greatly boost bystander response: CPR and defibrillation within 3-5 minutes can raise survival to about 70%, while each minute without intervention reduces survival by up to 10%.

     

  • Updated DVSA materials and apps (available from autumn 2025) cover the new content; there’s no extra cost, no longer test time and no increase in difficulty.

     

  • Public-access AEDs are safe for anyone to use, but are currently used in fewer than 10% of arrests – adding AED education to a test taken by – 2.4 million people a year should increase confidence and usage.

     

  • If you see someone collapse: call 999 on speaker, start chest compressions at about 5-6 cm depth and a steady rate, and get an AED to use as soon as it’s available.

     

New first‑aid topics on the theory test

From 2026 the driving theory test will include stronger first aid content – including CPR and, for the first time, questions about automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The change comes from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and aims to tackle the UK’s low survival rates after cardiac arrest by making sure more people know what to do when someone collapses.

Why this matters 

There are more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK every year, and fewer than 1 in 10 people survive. Yet if CPR and defibrillation happen within 3 to 5 minutes, survival rates can reach about 70%. Every minute without CPR or a shock from an AED cuts the chance of survival by up to 10%. That makes immediate action by bystanders absolutely crucial.

Drivers are often first on the scene – at crashes, at petrol stations, on motorways or when someone collapses at a bus stop. Teaching life-saving steps to learner drivers means many more people will have the knowledge to act in those first, most important minutes.

What’s changing in the test

  • From autumn 2025 learners studying for car and motorcycle theory tests will be given updated materials covering CPR hand placement and compression rate, and how to use an AED. The new questions go into the theory test from 2026.
  • There’s no extra cost, no longer test time and no increase in difficulty – the test content is being updated to match current best practice.
  • The multiple-choice section still has 50 questions (pass mark 43) and the hazard perception part remains the same; you must pass both sections to pass the whole test.

Examples of the new questions

  • “An adult casualty is not breathing. To maintain circulation, CPR should be given. What’s the correct depth to press down on their chest?” Correct answer: 5 to 6 centimetres.
  • “Who can use a public access defibrillator (AED)?” Correct answer: Everyone.

Resources and learning 

Official DVSA guides and apps have been updated with the new first aid material. Free training resources from the Resuscitation Council UK are also available to help learners practise CPR and AED use.

Why this approach could save lives 

Public-access defibrillators are used in fewer than 10% of cardiac arrests, partly because people don’t know where they are or don’t feel confident using them. Adding AED and CPR knowledge to a test taken by around 2.4 million people a year means hundreds of thousands more will learn these simple, life-saving skills. That can translate into quicker action on scene, higher survival rates and fewer people left with severe brain damage or long-term disability.

Who’s behind the change 

This update is the result of work between DVSA and groups such as Save a Life programmes across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, plus Resuscitation Council UK. Leaders from those groups say that teaching people how to give CPR and use AEDs could make the difference between life and death.

What to do if you see someone collapse

  • Call 999 and put the phone on speaker if you can.
  • Start CPR straight away – chest compressions at about 5–6 cm depth and at a steady rate.
  • Send someone to get an AED and use it as soon as it’s available.

Final point 

This is a simple, practical change with big potential. Teaching millions of learner drivers how to do CPR and use an AED is an easy way to improve survival after cardiac arrest. If you’re learning to drive, take the new first aid content seriously – it could help you save a life.

Links and further reading