Labour is being urged to introduce sweeping new rules that aim to protect millions of motorists in a move which could see defibrillators installed in cars.
Three in five drivers back new proposals that would see the Government prioritise access to defibrillators in 2026, according to fresh research from the JumpStart campaign.
The campaign is calling on Labour to introduce rules that would see vehicle-carried Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) a policy priority to save thousands of lives every year.
Recent data found that 40,000 cardiac arrests take place outside of hospitals in the UK every year, highlighting the urgency for such proposals to be introduced.
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Further research found that only one in 10 people survives an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), while public access defibrillators are used in less than 10 per cent of cases.
As a result, JumpStart is calling for the installation of Automated External Defibrillators in all new vehicles.
This would be reinforced with maintenance checks during the standard MOT test, in a bid to make roads safer for all Britons.
The campaign emphasised that with 37 million cars on the road, this could lead to a dispersed and effective nationwide network of defibrillators around the UK.
Calls are mounting for defibrillators to be installed in all new cars
|GETTY
Jon McLeod, a spokesperson for the JumpStart campaign, said: "This polling confirms what the data has consistently shown: the public want action, and they want it now.
"The Government has a real opportunity in 2026 to fix a system that is costing thousands of lives every year.
"JumpStart's proposal is simple, practical and evidence-led and it can start saving lives immediately once implemented."
If a defibrillator is used within three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest, survival rates could increase by up to 70 per cent.
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Experts say installing defibrillators in cars would save lives | PAHowever, experts have continually pointed out that people in rural areas suffer from a postcode lottery when it comes to defibrillator access.
JumpStart argues that the proposals would bring communities closer to life-saving equipment and remove barriers to prevent bystanders from using them in an emergency.
The campaign has already held discussions with Government officials to explore how proposals could work in practice and how they could be implemented.
It reported that the Department for Transport has already signalled an interest in evidence-led public health interventions, with hopes that this will gain momentum in the coming months.
An example question on defibrillators in a theory test | DVSAJumpStart confirmed its intention to engage with Parliament and other key players in 2026 to ensure everyone has access to life-saving equipment.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recently introduced new questions to the theory driving test on CPR and defibrillators to address the UK's low cardiac arrest survival rates.
The move has been backed by organisations including Save a Life programmes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the Resuscitation Council UK.
GB News has contacted the Department for Transport for a comment.