SFST One Leg Stand 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the OLS test, which clue is recorded when the subject puts their raised foot down before the 30-second count is complete?
- Swaying
- Puts foot down (Correct answer)
- Uses arms for balance
- Hopping
Correct answer: Puts foot down
'Puts foot down' is the specific clue recorded when the subject lowers their raised foot before the officer instructs them to stop.
Question 2: What is the maximum number of clues an officer can observe during the OLS test?
- 2
- 4 (Correct answer)
- 6
- 8
Correct answer: 4
The NHTSA standardized OLS test has exactly 4 scoreable clues: swaying, using arms for balance, hopping, and putting the foot down.
Question 3: A subject raises their arms more than 6 inches from their sides during OLS. How should this be scored?
- No clue — arm movement under 12 inches is acceptable
- Clue: uses arms for balance (Correct answer)
- Clue: swaying
- Clue: hopping
Correct answer: Clue: uses arms for balance
Any arm raise exceeding 6 inches from the sides constitutes the 'uses arms for balance' clue.
Question 4: During the OLS instruction phase, the officer demonstrates the test while giving instructions. What is the primary purpose of this demonstration?
- To intimidate the subject
- To ensure the subject understands what is required (Correct answer)
- To record baseline balance ability
- To satisfy a legal requirement before arrest
Correct answer: To ensure the subject understands what is required
The demonstration during instructions ensures the subject clearly understands the task, reducing grounds for later challenge.
Question 5: If a subject hops on one foot multiple times during the 30-second OLS period, how many clues is this scored as?
- One clue regardless of how many hops (Correct answer)
- One clue per hop observed
- Two clues — hopping and swaying
- No clue unless the subject falls
Correct answer: One clue regardless of how many hops
Hopping is scored as a single clue no matter how many times the subject hops during the test.
Question 6: A 68-year-old subject is administered the OLS test. According to NHTSA guidelines, what should the officer consider?
- Age is irrelevant; the test is fully standardized
- Subjects over 65 may have difficulty and results should be interpreted cautiously (Correct answer)
- The test should not be administered to anyone over 60
- Only subjects under 40 can be reliably tested
Correct answer: Subjects over 65 may have difficulty and results should be interpreted cautiously
NHTSA research notes that people over 65 may have difficulty with the OLS, so officers should use caution when interpreting results for older subjects.
Question 7: Which of the following is NOT one of the four standardized OLS clues?
- Swaying while balancing
- Hopping
- Losing count aloud (Correct answer)
- Puts foot down
Correct answer: Losing count aloud
The four OLS clues are swaying, using arms for balance, hopping, and putting the foot down — verbal miscounting is not a scored clue.
SFST One Leg Stand 2
During the OLS test, which clue is recorded when the subject puts their raised foot down before the 30-second count is complete?