Pro forma - Section 4 RTA Assessment (England, NI and Wales)
This form has been designed by Prof Ian F Wall and updated by Prof Margaret Stark on behalf of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine for use by Forensic Physicians (also known as Forensic Medical Examiners or Police Surgeons) who have been trained in the use of Standardised Impairment Tests.
The form is provided to assist Forensic Physicians in determining whether a person has a condition, which may be due to drink or drugs and not necessarily due to ‘impairment’. It is to be regarded as an aide-memoire and it is therefore not necessary for all parts of the form to be completed.
Some details are included so as to aid possible subsequent assessment of fitness for detention in custody. Where a test is abandoned the reasons should be recorded in Additional Particulars at 11. If the questions are read from a card, the wording should be identical to those used in this form and the card must remain available for production at court. On completion this form is the personal property of the examining doctor.
Whilst this form is designed to provide for the recording of findings following the examination of a subject to determine both the persons general medical condition and the degree of any impairment present, it is important to stress that the primary question police require to be answered is ‘Has the person a condition which might be due to some drug?’ It is not necessary to determine impairment or unfitness to drive.