Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department make an assessment of amending (a) the Highway Code and (b) driving (i) theory and (ii) practical tests to ensure that all drivers are trained in the use of defibrillators.

The Highway Code currently contains information on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but not on the use of defibrillators. The Department for Transport regularly updates the Highway Code and ensures the information contained reflects the latest advice.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) learning materials and publications will be updated to include new and current content on ‘Automatic External Defibrillators’ and bleeding, this is seen as the most effective way of ensuring drivers and riders have the knowledge and understanding of what to do in a medical emergency.

First Aid is knowledge and understanding, and so is tested during the driving theory test, rather than the practical test, which is a test of on-the-road driving.