Road Traffic Act 2010 (Impairment Testing) Regulations 2014

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Year: 2014
• Citation: IR SI 534/2014

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 28th November, 2014.

I, PASCHAL DONOHOE, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 11 (3) (inserted by section 11 of the Road Traffic Act 2014 (No. 3 of 2014)) of the Road Traffic Act 2010 (No. 25 of 2010), hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic Act 2010 (Impairment Testing) Regulations 2014.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 27 November 2014.

2. In these Regulations “ section 11 (1)” means section 11 (1) (inserted by section 11 of the Road Traffic Act 2014 (No. 3 of 2014)) of the Road Traffic Act 2010 (No. 25 of 2010).

3. Each of the tests described in Schedule 1 is prescribed for the purposes of section 11(1).

4. The form set out in Schedule 2 is prescribed for the purposes of section 11(1).

5. A member of the Garda Síochána may infer from observing a person’s ability to perform impairment tests in his or her presence, or in the presence of another member, in the manner indicated by him or her, or that other member, that the person’s ability to drive is impaired.

SCHEDULE 1

1. Pupillary Examination

1.1 The pupillary examination and observations on the appearance of the eyes indicate whether a person may be affected by an intoxicant.

1.2 Before a pupillary examination the tester will instruct the subject to:

— look straight ahead

— keep their eyes open

and ascertain that:

— the person understands the instruction, and

— whether contact lenses are being worn.

1.3 The examination will be conducted using a gauge. The gauge will be held adjacent to the appropriate side of the subject’s face to enable the tester, by a process of comparison, to estimate the sizes of the subject’s pupils.

1.4 The tester may also record if the subject’s eyes are ‘watery’ and/or whether the subject’s eyes display ‘reddening’.

2. The Modified Romberg Balance Test

2.1 The Modified Romberg Balance Test is an indicator of a person’s internal clock and ability to balance.

2.2 Before a Modified Romberg Balance Test, the tester will instruct the subject:

— to stand up straight with heels and toes together and with arms down by the side

— to maintain the position while the remaining instructions are given and

— not to begin until told and when further instructed

— to tilt the head back slightly and then close their eyes (the tester may demonstrate the position required but without closing his or her eyes)

— to bring the head forward, open their eyes and say ‘stop’ when they think that 30 seconds have passed.

and ascertain:

— that the subject understands the instructions, and

— whether the subject has any disability or medical condition which he thinks might prevent participation in the test.

2.3 The tester will record whether the subject was able to balance while being instructed, whether the subject steps, sways and/or raises their arms during the test and whether the subject’s eyes were opened or head was lowered. The tester will also record the number of seconds that had elapsed when the subject said ‘stop’, and whether the subject was able to complete the test.

3. Walk and Turn Test

3.1 The walk and turn test is an exercise that enables assessment of whether a person is able to divide attention between walking, balancing and processing instructions.

3.2 Before a walk and turn test, the tester shall identify a line, avoiding the use of a kerb or anywhere the subject may fall, and will instruct the subject:

— to place the left foot on the line

— to place the right foot on the line in front of the left foot touching heel to toe (the tester may demonstrate the position)

— to put the arms down by the side and keep them there throughout the test and

— to maintain the position while remaining instructions are given

and ascertain:

— whether the subject understands the instructions so far given

The tester shall further instruct the subject that when he or she says ‘start’:

— to take nine heel to toe steps along the line

— to ensure that on each step the heel of the front foot is placed against the toe of the other foot (the tester may demonstrate the instructions so far given)

— after nine steps have been taken, to leave the front foot on the line and turn around using a series of small steps with the other foot

— after turning, to take another nine heel to toe steps back along the line

— to watch the feet at all times during the test

— to count each step out loud

— having once started, not to stop until the test is complete (the tester should demonstrate the complete test)

and ascertain:

— whether the subject has understood the remaining instructions,

and

— whether the subject has any disability or medical condition which he thinks might prevent participation in the test.

3.3 The tester will record whether the subject was able to stand still while being instructed, whether the subject started too soon, whether the subject turned correctly, any occasions when the subject stopped walking, missed heel to toe connection, stepped off line, or raised their arms. The tester will also record whether the steps were correctly counted. The point of any deviation from the straight line during the course of the test will additionally be marked on a diagram on the appropriate form.

4. One Leg Stand

4.1 The one leg stand test enables assessment of balance and counting out loud.

4.2 Before a one leg stand test, the tester shall instruct the person:

— to stand with their heels and toes together and their arms down by their sides

— to maintain the position while receiving the remaining instructions

and

— not to begin until told to

and ascertain:

— whether the subject understands the instructions so far given

The tester shall further instruct the subject that when he or she says ‘start’:

— to raise the right foot 6 to 8 inches or 15 to 20 centimetres off the ground

— to keep the elevated leg straight with the toes pointing forward and the foot parallel with the ground

— to keep the arms down by the side, and

— to keep looking at the elevated foot throughout the test and whilst doing so, to count out aloud ‘one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three’ and so on progressively until told to stop

and ascertain:

— whether the subject has understood the remaining instructions

— whether the subject has any disability or medical condition which he thinks might prevent participation in the test.

4.3 The tester will instruct the subject to undertake the test using each foot in turn. The instructions need not be repeated for the second foot but they may be.

4.4 The tester will record over a timed period of 30 seconds, for each foot, any instances where the subject sways, hops, puts a foot down or raises the arms, together with the point of the test at which it occurred.

5. Finger to Nose Test

5. 1 The finger to nose test is a test of depth perception and balance.

5. 2 Before a finger to nose test, the tester shall instruct the subject:

— to stand with feet together and whilst doing so

— to extend both arms out in front, palms side uppermost, with the fist closed and the index finger of each hand extended (the tester should demonstrate the position)

— to maintain the position...