DRIVERS stopped by Wiltshire police for erratic driving might soon be seen standing on one leg at local roadsides.

Or they could even be spotted trying to touch their noses or attempting to walk in a straight line.

It all sounds bizarre enough to be out of a classic episode of Monty Python - but it's no joke.

The undignified poses are part of a range of tests the county's police force is planning, to help crack down on drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs,

Changes made last December to the Road Traffic Act now allow police to carry out roadside impairment checks when they think any motorist who has committed a traffic offence or been involved in a crash is high on drugs or has been drinking.

Since the laws were approved by parliament, Wiltshire officers have been trained to conduct the impairment tests - and the sight of someone standing on one leg or touching their nose will become part of traffic policing.

If a police officer suspects a driver is under the influence of alcohol, the familiar breath test will still be used.

However, the breath test does not detect drugs, so the new tests are being introduced to gather evidence of impairment.

If a driver refuses to take the tests, or performs badly, they will be arrested and a blood or urine sample might be taken from them for analysis.

There is a series of tests to check time perception, muscle control, balance, vision, judgement, short-term memory and the processing of information.

After the pupils of their eyes have been checked, anyone suspected of being under the influence will be asked to:

close their eyes and say when 30 sec

onds have elapsed;

walk heel-to-toe and turn around;

stand on one leg;

close their eyes and touch the tip of

their nose.

Trained officers will monitor how well each test is completed and will be able to form an opinion about whether the individual is impaired.

Sergeant Daryn Pearce, of the Salisbury-based southern road policing unit, said: "The problem of driving under the influence of drugs has been a growing one that we could not easily detect under previous legislation.

"This change in the law gives us the power to act decisively, and anyone who thinks they can take drugs and drive must think again about their irresponsible behaviour.

"Our officers will not hesitate to administer these tests if they have grounds to do so."