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Eleanor is drugs testguinea pig

Fife reporter Eleanor Pattinson was made to sweat when police subjected her to an old-fashioned drugs test.

But Eleanor, who writes for the Fife Free Press, was in no danger of arrest – she was taking part in the test for an article.

Earlier this year, it was announced that old-fashioned drink driving tests were being brought back in to help catch drivers under the influence of drugs.

Their return was met with widespread derision but research shows the tests to be highly accurate – and Eleanor was soon able to see why.

Despite being completely free of drugs or booze, the reporter still found the tests difficult.

The first test was a measurement of pupil size and Eleanor passed this with flying colours – but a tougher trial was to follow.

The second stage involved her standing with her feet apart, closing her eyes, tilting her head back and counting to 30.

Eleanor explained: “As soon as my pea-sized brain was asked to balance and count at the same time, 30 turned into 35 and effort was needed not to topple over.

“I would hate to imagine how poor my performance would be after one pint of lager let alone after taking any kind of drugs.”

Test three was the classic walking in a straight line, and Eleanor managed to come through this was unscathed.

But test four was difficult and involved standing on one leg and counting from 1,000.

Eleanor explained: “Out of familiar 1, 2, 3 territory things became a whole lot harder. 1,001 nearly jumped to 2,002 when I started to wobble.”

The final test had her trying to touch her nose with her eyes closed and head tilted backwards – all the while receiving confusing ‘left – right’ instructions.

With the tests complete, Eleanor had just done enough to pass. But she had been taught a valuable lesson.

She said: “I know fine well I wouldn’t have passed had my senses been impaired in any way.”

The new tests come into force from June 1.

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