All UK drivers could face a device being installed in EVERY newly manufactured car. National campaign group, JumpStart, is today urging the UK Government to mandate the installation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in all newly manufactured cars after polling data shows that 74% of the British public support the proposal. Only 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest – a devastating statistic that translates to 30,000 lives lost every year in the UK. What鈥檚 even more tragic is that defibrillators are used in just 10% of these cases, often because people simply don鈥檛 know where to find one. A defibrillator, if used quickly, can be the difference between life and death – because with every passing minute without CPR and defibrillation, the chance of survival drops by up to 10%. These are not just numbers – they are preventable deaths. With over 37 million vehicles on UK roads, often parked in residential areas, we see a clear and practical opportunity to use the nation鈥檚 car fleet as a life-saving public health resource. READ MORE Millions of workers could be handed 拢1,000 tax-free annual payout While defibrillators are becoming more common in public places, around 80% of cardiac arrests occur in or near the home, where AEDs are least accessible. Having defibrillators in vehicles could dramatically change the numbers. Jon McLeod, spokesperson for the JumpStart campaign, said: 鈥淭his is a straightforward, practical solution. As cars are already part of our everyday lives, why not make them part of the solution? Equipping every new vehicle with a defibrillator is a small ask with a huge return: saving lives that would otherwise be lost in the precious minutes before an ambulance can arrive.鈥 JumpStart has consulted widely with leading charities and relevant organisations in the sector and will be continually seeking their input on the technical aspects and progression of the proposed reforms. Meeting MPs and pressing ministers to support the campaign will ramp up in the coming weeks, with the campaign aiming to drive meaningful policy change by the end of the year. Mishcon de Reya has been advising on the requisite changes to the legislative framework. This campaign, conceived and philanthropically funded by Jonathan Harris CBE, arrives at a time of renewed political focus on preventative care and community-based innovation and is looking to get the support of key government departments behind the scheme. Both the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP, and the Labour Party Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, have signalled an openness to simple, evidence-led interventions that can deliver visible public benefit. With 60% of the public saying they do not know where they could find their nearest defibrillator, JumpStart offers an effective and life-saving solution.