New research has revealed overwhelming public support for a radical proposal to equip every new car in England with a life-saving defibrillator.
Majority of Drivers Back Life-Saving Proposal
According to fresh research from the JumpStart campaign, three in five drivers back new proposals that would see the Labour Party government prioritise access to defibrillators in 2026. The campaign argues that by fitting the devices in all new vehicles, everyday cars could be transformed into "mini ambulances," dramatically improving survival rates from cardiac arrests.
The Stark Reality of Cardiac Arrest Survival
The campaign highlights a critical public health issue. More than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the UK, yet survival rates remain tragically low at below 10 per cent. While defibrillator access in public spaces has improved, it is often patchy and unreliable, especially in rural and residential areas where most emergencies happen.
"In a cardiac emergency, every second counts," the campaign states. "The gap between knowing what to do and having the tools to act can be the difference between life and death."
Cars as Ubiquitous First Responders
Jon McLeod, a spokesperson for the JumpStart campaign, emphasised the practicality of the solution. "This polling confirms what the data has consistently shown: the public want action, and they want it now," he said.
"Cars are one of the most ubiquitous assets in modern life. Parked on driveways, outside schools, workplaces and shops, they are frequently already at or near the scene of medical emergencies," McLeod explained. "This is a straightforward, practical solution. As cars are already part of our everyday lives, why not make them part of the solution?"
He urged the Government to seize the opportunity in 2026 to fix a system that "is costing thousands of lives every year," describing the proposal as simple, practical, and evidence-led.
The campaign concludes that equipping every new vehicle is a small ask with a huge potential return: saving lives in the precious minutes before professional medical help can arrive.
