In DUI testing, which method is used to assess a driver’s balance ability?

The walk and turn test is specifically designed to assess a driver's balance, coordination, and ability to follow instructions while potentially impaired. In this test, the individual is required to walk a straight line, typically taking a series of heel-to-toe steps in one direction, turn around, and return to the starting point. The test evaluates various factors, including the person's stability while walking, the ability to maintain balance during the turn, and the performance of the task while focusing on multiple instructions.

This method is a standardized field sobriety test widely recognized in DUI testing procedures. It provides law enforcement officers with observable indicators of impairment, particularly in how the person manages balance and coordination. The results of this test can be crucial in establishing probable cause for further testing or arrest.

The other methods listed serve different purposes; for example, field interviews involve communication and questioning rather than physical assessment, the drunkometer (or breathalyzer) measures blood alcohol concentration rather than balance, and the horizontal gaze nystagmus test evaluates eye movement to identify potential impairment. Each of these serves a distinct role in the overall assessment of a driver's capability but does not specifically focus on balance assessment like the walk and turn test does.