Which statement best describes S6A of the Road Traffic Act 1988?

• A. Unfitness to drive due to drink or drugs, including physical and psychomotor tests carried out at scene or station.
• B. A duty to arrest any driver suspected of speeding.
• C. A requirement to take a blood test only at a hospital.
• D. Roadside tests can be used only after a court order.

Answer: (A)

S6A is about driving unfit through alcohol or drugs and the police’s power to assess impairment directly. It allows officers to carry out physical and psychomotor impairment tests at the roadside or in custody to decide if someone is unfit to drive, not just rely on a blood or breath reading. If the tests indicate impairment, the driver can be arrested and required to provide a sample for analysis to confirm the issue. This differs from the idea of simply being over a legal limit or needing a court order to test; impairment tests can be conducted at the scene or station.