What is the one-leg field sobriety test?

If you are like many people in Pennsylvania, you might have heard references to field sobriety tests in discussions related to drunk driving arrests. However, do you really know what these tests are and whether or not they are accurate? FieldSobrietyTests.org explains that there are three such tests approved for use by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration yet none of them are completely accurate.

Among the standardized field sobriety tests is the one-leg stand test. As the name implies, in this test you would be asked to lift one of your feet and stand on only the other one. While you do this you would also need to count out loud exactly as the officer instructs you to. Any movement of your arms for balance may be used to indicate your failure of the test as you would be required to keep your arms at your sides.

If the ground is uneven, you are wearing heels or you have leg or back issues it might logically be difficult for you to balance even if you have not consumed alcohol. This test is said to have a rate of accuracy of 65 percent and these are some of the things that may contribute to its lack of accuracy. If you are quite overweight your ability to pass this test may also be hindered. 

This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to give drivers in Pennsylvania an idea of what the one-leg stand field sobriety test is and exactly how accurate it might really be.