Addiction Alcohol Use Drunk Driving Field Sobriety Tests to Assess Drunk Driving By Buddy T Buddy T Facebook Twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 23, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Daniel B. Block, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD LinkedIn Twitter Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print DarrenMower/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents The Field Sobriety Test Signs of Intoxication Can You Fail the Test While Sober? Marijuana and Other Substances Test Refusal Field sobriety tests (FTSs) are groups of three tests used by police to determine if a driver is impaired. The tasks assess balance, coordination, and the ability of the driver to divide his attention to more than one task during the field sobriety test. The tests have been scientifically proven to validate legal intoxication in drivers suspected of drunken driving in 90% of cases if administered by a trained officer. Results of the test are admissible as evidence in court. The Field Sobriety Test National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines and describes the three parts of the SFST in detail. If the driver fails any of the field sobriety tests, the officer will then ask the suspect to take a breath test or a chemical test to confirm their blood-alcohol content. The Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) is a battery of three tests that include the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN), the walk-and-turn, and the one-leg stand tests. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Horizontal gaze nystagmus is an involuntary "jerking" of the eyeball which happens to everyone when the eyes are rotated at high peripheral angles. When a person is intoxicated, however, the jerking of the eyes becomes more exaggerated and occurs at lesser angles. Turning the HGN test, the officer will ask the driver to follow a moving object, such as a pen or flashlight, slowly from side to side. The officer looks to determine: If jerking is distinct when the eye is at maximum deviationIf the angle of jerking onset is within 45 degreesIf the eye cannot follow the object smoothly If four or more clues appear between the two eyes, the driver is likely to have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) 0.10 or greater. NHTSA research shows this test to be accurate in 77% of test subjects. Walk-And-Turn Test For the walk-and-turn test, the officer asks the driver to take nine steps, heel-to-toe, along a straight line, turn on one foot and return nine steps in the opposite direction. During the test, the officer looks for seven indicators of impairment. A subject may be impaired if they: Begin before the instructions are finishedCannot keep balance while listening to the instructionsDoes not touch heel-to-toeLoses balance while turningStops while walking to regain balanceTakes an incorrect number of stepsUses arms to balance If the driver exhibits two or more of the above indicators during the test, there is a 68% likelihood of at BAC level of 0.10 or higher, according to the NHTSA. Understanding Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Levels One-Leg Stand Test For the one-leg stand test, the officer asks the driver to stand with one foot about six inches off the ground and count from 1,001 (one-thousand-one, one thousand two, etc.) until the officer says to put the foot down. During the next 30 seconds, the officer looks for these four indicators: Hopping to maintain balancePutting the foot downSwaying while balancingUsing arms to balance If the driver exhibits two or more of the above indicators, there is a 65% chance they have a BAC of 0.10 or greater, according to the NHSTA. Signs of Intoxication If you suspect that you or someone else might be intoxicated, there are some signs to watch for. Indicators that someone is drunk and may fail a field sobriety test include: Feelings of confusionLethargyImpaired walkingBecoming very talkative or euphoricLack of inhibitionSlurred speech or other problems speakingVomiting Alcohol affects people differently. Even if you don't feel drunk, do not operate a motor vehicle if you have been consuming alcohol. What Is Intoxication? Can You Fail the Test While Sober? There are many reasons that people who are not intoxicated might not be able to perform the above tests successfully, including certain medical conditions, disabilities, age, injury, and taking a certain medication. Wearing contact lenses, for example, could affect the HGN test results. The officer usually will ask the driver if there is a reason that they may not be able to pass the test and makes a note of their answer in his arrest report. If there is a legitimate reason, medical or otherwise, why you might fail one or more parts of the field sobriety test make sure you mention it to so that the officer makes a note of it in the official record. It might be helpful to you in court later. Tests for Marijuana and Other Substances Field sobriety tests can be utilized to check for signs of intoxication and impairment. However, they cannot determine specifically what substances a person has been using. HGN tests are commonly used to look for signs of marijuana intoxication. Officers may also look at the individual's pupils to see if they are unequal, have unusual movements, or are extremely dilated or constricted. Laws about driving under the influence of cannabis vary. Some states utilize "per se" laws similar to that of alcohol intoxication, suggesting that a certain level of THC (the psychoactive compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) corresponds to intoxication. However, research indicates that specific THC levels do not correlate to certain levels of impairment. Studies indicate that even low levels of THC correspond to significant cognitive and psychomotor impairments. How Long Does Marijuana Last? Can You Refuse a Field Sobriety Test? While people can refuse a field sobriety test, the state also has a right to penalize people for doing so. A field sobriety test helps provide evidence that an individual is intoxicated. If someone refuses the tests, however, police can still arrest a person that they believe is intoxicated and then conduct further testing. They can also still arrest someone who passes field sobriety tests if they suspect the individual is under the influence. 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Stuster J. Validation of the standardized field sobriety test battery at 0.08% blood alcohol concentration. Hum Factors. 2006;48(3):608-14. doi:10.1518/001872006778606895 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Instructor Guide DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Refersher. October 2015. National Institute of Justice. Field sobriety tests and THC levels unreliable indicators of marijuana intoxication. NOLO. Implied consent and refusal to take blood, breath, or urine test. By Buddy T Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Get Treatment for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.