DRIVERS TO FACE 'STAND ON ONE LEG' DRUGS TEST

Motorists suspected of taking drugs will be asked to walk along a straight
line or to stand on one leg under police tests that will be introduced next
year.

Chief constables are resurrecting physical tests once used by traffic
officers for drunk drivers in the 1950s and 1960s, before the advent of the
breathalyser. They are adopting them because there is no suitable roadside
testing kit available, despite concern at the increasing use of drugs by
drivers.

Trials of the "field impairment tests" were carried out last summer in
Northamptonshire, Strathclyde, North Wales, South Wales, Derbyshire and
Cleveland. The Northamptonshire force has made a training video and a
spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers said that the tests
were expected to be introduced early next year.

During the trial period from June to August, 109 tests were carried out in
the forces and 36 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the
influence of drugs; 24 gave blood or urine samples, of which 21 proved
positive. The tests are based on a process used by American police forces
when a driver is stopped. The traffic officer checks the driver to see if he
or she is showing unusual restlessness, eyelid tremor or dilated pupils.
Officers are given a card displaying different pupil sizes to assist them.

The police officer will then conduct a series of tests. The driver is asked
to stand with his arms by his sides, close his eyes and count to 30 seconds,
to see whether he is aware of time. He is asked to walk nine steps in a
straight line, heel to toe, turn around and come back. After that, he has to
stand on one leg, then the other. Finally, the driver is expected to touch
his nose with his index fingers three times.

If the police believe that the driver's abilities are impaired, he or she
then has to go to a police station, where a blood or urine sample is taken.

Technical roadside tests rely on taking swab of saliva or sweat and trials
have been carried out with a number of kits to see if the public will accept
them. Work is being carried out by government scientists to develop a
national kit.