In the walk and turn test, what are officers observing during the instruction phase?

In the instruction phase of the walk and turn test, officers primarily observe balance. This phase is critical as it establishes a baseline for how well the subject can maintain their stability while receiving instructions. During this phase, the officer assesses whether the individual can stand still without swaying or using their arms to help balance while listening to the directions. An inability to maintain balance during these instructions may indicate impairment, which is a key factor in determining the subject's potential level of intoxication.

The other options, such as reaction time, speech clarity, and overall confidence, are not the primary focus at this stage. While they may provide some ancillary information about the subject's condition, the main emphasis during the instruction phase is clearly on the individual's ability to maintain balance. This is crucial for interpreting the results of the test as a whole, since a lack of balance can significantly affect the execution of the tasks that follow.