Examining the Feasibility of a Standardized Field Test for Marijuana Impairment

The objective of this project is to explore the feasibility of a standardized test battery for roadside use for detecting marijuana impairment in drivers.

Roadside tests of alcohol impairment are often used by police officers as part of Driving While Intoxicated/Impaired (DWI) arrests. There is not currently a similar test for roadside to determine whether a driver is impaired by a drug, other than alcohol. Yale University is leading a study for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to explore the feasibility of a standardized test battery for roadside use for detecting marijuana impairment in drivers. The battery could include cognitive, behavioral physical capability, physiological tests, or driving skills tests. WTI serves on the Yale University team. WTI researchers will advise and contribute to the development of relevant driving scenarios and support the analysis of driving simulator data;  provide input on test selection from  experience with related European projects to develop cannabis field tests; and suggest methodologies to determine user needs and design parameters for future operational field tests.