New device created to improve drunk driving detection

 

PULASKI, Ind. -- Former Federal Police Officer Peter Zahrt spent 11 years with the National Park Service.

His focus during his career was traffic safety, specifically pursuing drivers who were impaired or intoxicated.

A big part of that job was performing field sobriety tests on the side of the road.

One of the tests, the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, is performed when the officer uses his or her index finger.

"If you've ever watched 'Cops', this is where the cop says, 'follow my finger with your eyes," explains Zahrt.

This test requires the officer to focus on the subject being tested, which could distract them from their surroundings at the scene.

Zahrt left law enforcement to start a company called Tippecanoe Tech where he developed a new device called "NYTE RYDR."

"This uses a fast-moving LED light, and it's programmed to way the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says to do the test so the suspect gets a perfect test, and the officer can give a perfect test, and the results of that eye examination are recorded," said Zahrt.

Zahrt believes the test will provide more accuracy in less time while providing safety to the officer.

He also believes what's most compelling is the evidence it provides.

The movement or jerking of the eyes.

"Alcohol is a central nervous depressant, and because of that, the eyes, when they're tracking the stimulus, will jerk involuntarily, because the nerves in the eye are depressed," explains Zahrt.

Zahrt is currently conducting validation tests to prove "NYTE RYDR" provides the same intoxication clues as if an officer did the test manually.

Part of that process is getting volunteers intoxicated.

"If I go up and say, 'Hey this is nystagmus; the reason for this is due to alcohol'. I mean they say a picture is worth a thousand words, what's a video worth? Death caused by drunk driving is just absolutely devastating. Then through the use of this device, we can start proving alcohol was the factor that caused the crash, and hopefully we can be part of the solution."