The origin of the field sobriety test is from a series of studies conducted in the early 1970s by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA). DUIs were becoming an increasing public safety problem and gaining notoriety in both public schools and law enforcement agencies. At this time there were only very inaccurate ways to test if a person was committing a DUI.
The NHSTA thereby devised a series of tests, with the help of toxicologists and other alcohol experts, to test the sobriety of drivers. These tests were designed to be simple, quick, and easy to administered by an officer on the side of the road