Learner drivers across the UK are set to face a significant update to the driving theory test from 2026, as confirmed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The changes are designed to equip new drivers with life-saving skills that could dramatically improve cardiac arrest survival rates.
What's Changing in the Theory Test?
The DVSA has announced that from 2026, the theory examination will feature enhanced first aid content. This includes new questions on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and, for the first time ever, questions about automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
The organisation stated that this builds on existing first aid content that has been part of driver education for years. The move aims to address the UK's poor cardiac arrest survival statistics by ensuring more people know how to respond in emergency situations.
Why This Change Matters
Cardiac arrests can happen anywhere, and drivers are often first on the scene at roadside incidents. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10%, making immediate bystander intervention crucial.
Mark Winn, DVSA Chief Driving Examiner, emphasised: "Part of being a safe and responsible driver is knowing what to do in an emergency – how to step in and make a real, life-saving difference. Learning CPR and how to use an AED is a very simple skill."
What New Drivers Need to Know
From autumn 2025, candidates for car and motorbike theory tests will need to familiarise themselves with CPR techniques, including proper hand placement and compression rates, as well as how to use automated external defibrillators.
The theory test currently consists of two parts taken simultaneously: a multiple-choice section with 50 questions from a bank of over 700, and a hazard perception video assessment. To pass the multiple-choice section, candidates must answer at least 43 questions correctly.
Sample questions that may appear include:
What's the proper depth for chest compressions for an adult? The correct answer is 5 to 6 centimetres.
Who is permitted to operate a public access defibrillator (AED)? The correct answer is everyone.
James Cant, Chief Executive Officer of Resuscitation Council UK, commented: "By embedding these life-saving skills into such a widely taken assessment, we can help ensure that more people gain the knowledge and confidence to act during a cardiac arrest."
The changes have also received support from cardiac arrest awareness campaigners. Len Nokes, Chair of Save a Life Cymru, whose daughter Claire died from complications following a cardiac arrest in 2017, stated: "When Claire had her cardiac arrest, some knowledge of CPR might have made a difference."
Provisional licence holders must pass the theory test before they can book their practical driving assessment. With these changes coming in 2026, learner drivers are advised to ensure they're revising from updated materials that include the new first aid content.
