Final answer:
New drivers are required to take a series of tests including the mental status, cranial nerve, sensory, motor, coordination, and often the gait exam, to assess their driving capacity. A variation known as the Field Sobriety Test is used to determine the influence of alcohol.
Step-by-step explanation:
As part of the four-part driver examination, a new driver will be required to take various tests to assess their abilities. The exam comprises five major sections: the mental status exam, the cranial nerve exam, the sensory exam, the motor exam, and the coordination exam. An additional test often included is the gait exam, which is considered part of the coordination exam. While these tests are generally used in a clinical setting to assess neurological functions, a modified version, known as the Field Sobriety Test (FST), is used to assess whether drivers are under the influence of alcohol. The FST specifically checks for coordination and balance, which are controlled by the cerebellum, an area very sensitive to the effects of ethanol. The various tests look at a range of functions from memory and language to sensory and motor skills, as well as the ability to perform complex, coordinated movements.