Mastering Police Academy Field Sobriety Test Training

When you’re standing roadside with flashing lights behind you and a potentially impaired driver in front of you, your training has to kick in hard and fast. That’s why field sobriety test (FST) training in the police academy is no joke. It’s about consistency, credibility, and courtroom readiness. Because when these tests hold up in court, your work makes the community safer.

1. Learn the NHTSA Standards Cold

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standardized field sobriety testing for a reason—to give officers consistent, defensible tools.

Tip: Memorize the three standardized FSTs: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk-and-Turn (WAT), and One-Leg Stand (OLS). Know the scoring cues and procedures word for word.

2. Practice Giving Clear Instructions

The tests are only effective if the subject understands exactly what to do. Confusing directions lead to bad results—and weak court cases.

Tip: Rehearse your FST instructions like a script. Speak slowly, clearly, and demonstrate every step before asking the subject to begin.

3. Observe Everything, Not Just the Score

Impairment doesn’t always show up cleanly on the score sheet. A driver might fail to follow directions, sway, or admit to drinking—all valuable data.

Tip: Narrate your observations as you go, then write them up immediately after the stop while details are fresh.

4. Control the Environment When Possible

Wind, rain, traffic, or uneven pavement can skew results. That doesn’t mean you skip the test—you adapt while noting the limitations.

Tip: Move the subject to a safe, flat, well-lit spot. If conditions aren’t ideal, document the circumstances and how they may have impacted performance.

5. Tie Everything Back to Impairment

Your goal isn’t to humiliate or punish—it’s to determine if a driver is too impaired to operate a vehicle safely.

Tip: Combine your observations, test performance, and the totality of circumstances to form a defensible conclusion. It’s not about gotchas—it’s about safety.

Final Thoughts

Excelling in field sobriety test training means mastering the details, staying consistent, and documenting everything like it’s going to trial. Recruits who take FSTs seriously will not only improve DUI enforcement—they’ll build bulletproof cases that protect the public and stand up in court.

For more law enforcement training tips, visit www.armoganct.com.

Best,
Barbara
Armogan Training Team