---
title: "How accurate are field sobriety tests really?"
description: "NHTSA's own research claims 88% accuracy for HGN, 79% for WAT, and 83% for OLS - when administered exactly to protocol. Real-world accuracy is substantially lower because of administration..."
url: https://riduilaws.com/faq-items/how-accurate-are-field-sobriety-tests-really/
date: 2026-10-29
modified: 2026-10-29
author: "RI DUI Laws"
type: faq
lang: en
---

# How accurate are field sobriety tests really?

NHTSA's own research claims 88% accuracy for HGN, 79% for WAT, and 83% for OLS - when administered exactly to protocol. **Real-world accuracy is substantially lower** because of administration deviations, environmental factors, and driver-specific medical conditions.

How accurate are field sobriety tests really?[RI DUI Laws](https://riduilaws.com/author/admin_xxgjem88/)2026-10-29T22:17:33+00:00