STANDARD TESTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20184, 29 February 1940, Page 14

STANDARD TESTS

DRUNKEN DRIVERS PROCEDURE OUTLINED 'I'M OROUGH EX AMI NAT IO N M 1 NISTER’S EXPL.ANATION (Por Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. “Drivers alleged to be intoxicated will in future be tested according to a standard procedure, - ’ said the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, in an interview last evening. ‘‘Copies of tile new form setting out the method to be adopted and the tests to be administered have been distributed to doctors, police stations and traffic inspectors throughout the Dominion. i "This form must be filled in by the medical practitioner when he conducts an examination. The introductory section of the form sets out the tests which must be carried out to determine whether a driver has recently consumed alcohol. Tests of Co-ordination “The second section is designed to provide a reliable indication as to whether the amount taken has disturbed the normal behaviour of the accused to the extent of making him incapable of driving efficiently. It includes tests of vision, speech, memory, co-ordination. The test includes the manner of walking and performing simple operations such as dialling a telephone number or placing a key in a lock. “The final section of the form is devoted to investigations which should be made to ensure the driver’s condition is not due to some pathological state arising from a cause other than the consumption of alcohol. “Although I advocate the most severe measures against those who cause the slaughter of innocent people through criminal indulgence in alcohol, I wish to see no one condemned without a fair and thorough examination. This form provides a basis for such examination.”