Our ability to drive safely can be affected by drug use. Safely driving a vehicle is a complex task due to the fact that we always need to have clear vision and coordination and we need to be alert so that we can react quickly to the unexpected. If we drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, our brain is affected by these substances thus resulting in us not being able to have proper control over our vehicle.
The police are authorized to carry out roadside drug testing which looks for traces of drugs in our body. This includes illegal drug as well as drugs that are not permitted to be used while driving. There are three main types of roadside drug testing – Standard Impairment Assessment, saliva tests, and breath tests.
The Standard Impairment Assessment test involves interviewing and observing the driver and asking him to take a walk and turn test as well as the one leg stand test. These are the first steps to be taken in roadside drug testing. If an officer cannot determine whether or not a driver is guilty of taking illegal drugs or drugs that are not permitted to be used during driving, he can ask the driver to take a saliva or a breath test. (more...)
