Experts are calling on motorists to take part in mandatory first aid training courses as the number of road collisions on UK roads reaches unprecedented levels.
New research found that nearly 30,000 people were killed or seriously injured while driving on major roads across the nation in 2022.
The data found that almost six in 10 deaths from injuries on the road may have been prevented if first aid had been given before medical emergency services arrived, prompting calls for mandatory lessons.
Only one in 20 adults in the UK knows what to do in a first aid emergency and only five per cent feel confident, knowledgeable and willing to help someone with a medical issue, drivers have been urged to improve their life-saving skills.
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Reports show more deaths could have been prevented if first aid was administered
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If first aid training was made mandatory, drivers would be equipped with a range of knowledge, including how to treat burns and wounds, CPR and shock caused by the incident, one expert stated.
Tim Alcock, from LeaseCar.uk, said: “We believe that first aid training should be a requirement before getting behind the wheel to reduce deaths and help those with injuries on UK roads.
“It is extremely concerning that just five per cent of the public would be willing to help someone bleeding heavily, unresponsive or not breathing.
“First aid can be crucial when responding to a car accident and the correct knowledge and skills can help save lives while waiting for ambulances.”
First aid training is already compulsory for drivers in other nations across Europe including in the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovenia with it being a condition of receiving a licence.
To get a driving licence in Switzerland, however, motorists must attend a 10-hour first aid course split into different modules, followed by a practical assessment and written test.
A similar move was introduced in the UK in 2016 through the Driving Licence (Mandatory First Aid Training) Bill but failed to pass through the House of Commons.
The Bill would have required all driving licence applicants to have first aid training before sitting a practical driving test.
Alcock added: “Whether the first aid training covers the basics or advanced emergencies, the skills learnt in courses can drastically improve the chance of survival.
“The UK should be following in the footsteps of other countries who have made first aid training mandatory to give the necessary help to drivers if they get into an accident.
“It is disappointing that nothing came from the Mandatory First Aid Training Bill, especially since over half of deaths from injury could be prevented with the first aid right training.
“That’s why we’re urging the government to seriously reconsider introducing first aid training for drivers to help anyone who experiences a road accident.”
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In 2022, there were nearly 2,000 fatalities while on the roads
PAIn 2022, there were 1,695 fatalities while on the roads. A total of 29,795 people were killed or seriously injured and there were 136,002 casualties of all severities.
