You arrive at the scene of an incident. Emergency services have been called and the scene is clear of danger from further collisions or fire. There is a motorcyclist who is unconscious. What should your first priority be?

Why the other options are wrong

• “Check if they are bruised” is a distractor. It does not meet the standard the question is testing, which check their breathing does. Picking it in the real test costs a mark you cannot get back, and with a pass mark of 43 out of 50 you only have seven to spare.
• “Check if they are bleeding” is a distractor. It does not meet the standard the question is testing, which check their breathing does. Picking it in the real test costs a mark you cannot get back, and with a pass mark of 43 out of 50 you only have seven to spare.
• “Check for broken bones” is a distractor. It does not meet the standard the question is testing, which check their breathing does. Picking it in the real test costs a mark you cannot get back, and with a pass mark of 43 out of 50 you only have seven to spare.

Why that is the answer

Once the scene is safe, your immediate priority for an unconscious casualty is to check their airway and breathing. If they stop breathing, brain damage or death can occur within minutes. While checking for heavy bleeding or broken bones is important, these secondary checks must wait until you are certain the casualty is breathing normally. DVSA first aid guidance follows standard medical priorities where maintaining life always comes before treating other injuries.

How this comes up in the real test

Questions from incidents, accidents and emergencies appear throughout the 50-question multiple-choice section, and the wording changes between versions. Learn the rule rather than the sentence: the DVSA can ask the same point from the opposite direction, and a memorised answer falls over the moment the phrasing moves.

The pass mark is 43 out of 50, so seven wrong answers is your entire margin. If a whole category is shaky, run the topic practice below until you are getting every question right for the right reason, then go back to full mocks under the clock.

More incidents, accidents and emergencies questions

• After a collision, someone is unconscious in their vehicle. When should you call the emergency services?
• An adult casualty isn’t breathing. CPR should be administered to keep the blood flowing. How hard should you press against their chest?
• An injured motorcyclist is lying unconscious in the road. The traffic has stopped and there’s no further danger. What could you do to help?
• An injured person has been placed in the recovery position. They’re unconscious but breathing normally. What else should be done?
• At an incident, a casualty is unconscious but breathing. When should you move them?
• At an incident, a casualty isn’t breathing. What should you do while helping them to start breathing again?