During a roadside DUI investigation, officers may ask a driver to perform several standardized or non-standardized field sobriety tests. These tests are designed to evaluate whether a driver shows signs of alcohol or drug impairment.
One category of these tests is known as divided attention tests. These tests require a person to perform physical tasks while simultaneously concentrating on mental instructions.
The theory behind divided attention testing is that alcohol or drugs can impair a person’s ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time. When drivers must focus on both physical coordination and mental processing, law enforcement officers look for specific clues that may suggest impairment.
Understanding divided attention tests in DUI investigations is important because these tests often play a significant role in an officer’s decision to arrest a driver for DUI.
Below are some of the most common divided attention tests used in Utah DUI investigations.
1. Walk-and-Turn Test
The Walk-and-Turn test is one of the most common standardized field sobriety tests used during DUI investigations.
The Walk-and-Turn test requires a person to:
• Maintain balance while listening to instructions • Walk heel-to-toe along a straight line • Count steps out loud • Perform a specific turn • Walk back while continuing to count
This test forces the driver to divide attention between balance, memory, coordination, and counting.
During the test, officers are trained to look for specific clues of impairment such as:
• Stepping off the line • Missing heel-to-toe contact • Using arms for balance • Losing balance during the instructions • Taking an incorrect number of steps
Because the Walk-and-Turn test requires both physical coordination and mental concentration, it is considered a classic example of a divided attention DUI test.
However, several factors unrelated to alcohol or drugs can affect performance, including uneven pavement, medical conditions, injuries, or nervousness during the investigation.
2. One-Leg Stand Test
The One-Leg Stand test is another standardized field sobriety test frequently used in Utah DUI investigations.
In the One-Leg Stand test, the driver must:
• Stand on one foot • Keep the other foot raised approximately six inches off the ground • Look at the raised foot • Count out loud for approximately 30 seconds
While the driver performs the test, officers observe for potential indicators of impairment.
Officers observe for clues such as:
• Swaying while balancing • Hopping to maintain balance • Using arms for balance • Putting the raised foot down
Again, this test combines physical coordination and mental concentration, requiring the driver to maintain balance while counting and following instructions.
Because alcohol and certain drugs can affect the central nervous system, officers are trained to watch for difficulty performing this dual-task activity.
However, many people may struggle with this test even when completely sober due to factors such as:
• Age • Weight • Balance issues • Injuries • Roadside conditions
3. Modified Romberg Balance Test
The Modified Romberg Balance Test is commonly used in drug-related DUI investigations and is frequently taught in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) training.
The Modified Romberg Balance Test requires a subject to:
• Stand still with feet together • Tilt the head slightly back • Close their eyes • Estimate the passage of 30 seconds
This test evaluates several factors, including:
• Balance • Internal time perception • Neurological effects of drugs or alcohol
During the test, the officer observes how accurately the individual estimates the passage of time and whether the person shows signs of instability.
The counting portion of this test is also considered a divided attention component, because the individual must mentally track time while maintaining a controlled physical posture.
Officers may also look for additional signs such as:
• Body tremors • Swaying • Eyelid tremors
These observations may be used by officers as indicators of possible drug impairment.
4. Finger-to-Nose Test
The Finger-to-Nose test is another divided attention test sometimes used during roadside DUI investigations.
In the Finger-to-Nose test, a person must touch their nose with alternating hands while following instructions from the officer.
Typically, the officer instructs the driver to:
• Stand with feet together • Extend arms to the sides • Close their eyes • Touch the tip of their nose with the index finger when instructed
The officer may call out instructions such as “left,” “right,” or “both,” requiring the driver to quickly process the instruction and perform the movement.
This test evaluates:
• Coordination • Ability to follow instructions • Divided attention between listening and performing physical movements
Because the driver must listen, process instructions, and execute movements at the same time, this test also qualifies as a divided attention DUI test.
Eye Tests Are Different From Divided Attention Tests
Not all roadside impairment tests involve divided attention.
Some tests instead focus on physiological responses that cannot be voluntarily controlled.
Examples include:
• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) • Vertical Gaze Nystagmus (VGN)
These tests measure involuntary jerking of the eyes as the eyes move from side to side or upward.
Because the eye movement cannot be voluntarily controlled, these tests are designed to detect physiological signs of impairment rather than divided attention performance.
HGN is one of the most widely used standardized field sobriety tests and is frequently relied upon by officers when determining whether alcohol impairment may be present.
Why Divided Attention Testing Matters in DUI Cases
Understanding how divided attention tests used in Utah DUI investigations work is extremely important in DUI defense cases.
Police officers are trained to look for specific “clues” of impairment during these tests. These clues are often documented in the officer’s police report and may later be used in court to support probable cause for an arrest.
However, many factors unrelated to alcohol or drugs can affect a person’s performance on these tests, including:
• Fatigue • Nervousness • Medical conditions • Injuries • Uneven roadside surfaces • Poor lighting • Weather conditions
Because of these variables, divided attention test results are frequently challenged in court.
A skilled DUI defense attorney may examine:
• Whether the tests were administered properly • Whether the roadside conditions were appropriate • Whether the driver had medical or physical limitations • Whether the officer correctly interpreted the results
These issues can be critical when determining whether the officer had probable cause to arrest a driver for DUI.
Speak With a Utah DUI Defense Attorney
If you have been arrested for DUI in Utah, it is critical to have an attorney who understands how law enforcement officers are trained to detect impairment and how those tests can be challenged in court.
An experienced DUI defense attorney can review police reports, body camera footage, and field sobriety test procedures to determine whether the investigation was conducted properly.
CALL OR TEXT Utah DUI Attorney Jake Gunter
📞 (801) 373-6345
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Field Sobriety Testing https://www.nhtsa.gov