DRE Symptomatology Matrix — Observable Indicators
Rows 1–4 are the ARIDE roadside set. Rows 5–9 require the DRE dark-room exam and vital-sign instruments. In school you must reproduce all 63 cells on a blank chart from memory — use the Matrix Drill tab.
How to hold it in your head
Lower half — recognition rows
General indicators, duration, administration, and overdose signs. These are recall-by-recognition: you match what you observed. Full 91-cell chart is also drilled in school.
Blank Matrix Drill — reproduce all 63 cells
Click a cell and pick the value. Practice grades each answer the moment you pick it — green if right, red with the correction if wrong. Test is school conditions: fill all 63, then hit Check. Every run and every miss is saved to your Progress tab.
Flashcards
Quiz
Randomized questions across the matrix, mnemonics, polydrug rules, the 12-step process, vital ranges, and category tells. Explanations cite where the fact lives in your notes.
The 12-Step DRE Evaluation
Standardized and systematic — always the same order. Memorize it cold before school. Pulse is taken three times: steps 3, 6, and 9.
Order Drill
Tap the steps in the correct order. A wrong pick flashes red and counts as a miss.
DRE Normal Ranges (dark-room & vitals)
Learn these now — they anchor rows 4–9 of the matrix. Values per the NHTSA DRE curriculum.
| Measure | Normal range |
|---|---|
| Pulse rate | 60–90 bpm |
| Blood pressure | Systolic 120–140 · Diastolic 70–90 mmHg |
| Body temperature | 98.6°F ± 1° |
| Pupils — room light | 2.5 – 5.0 mm |
| Pupils — near total darkness | 5.0 – 8.5 mm |
| Pupils — direct light | 2.0 – 4.5 mm |
Polydrug — the four interaction effects
| Effect | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Null | 0 + 0 = 0 | Cannabis + fentanyl: neither causes HGN → no HGN |
| Overlapping | 1 + 0 = 1 | Alcohol (HGN) + cannabis (none) → HGN present from alcohol |
| Additive | 1 + 1 = 2+ | Alcohol + cannabis both cause LOC → stronger LOC; cannabis + stimulant → "dinner plate" pupils |
| Antagonistic | opposites = unpredictable | Speedball (stimulant + narcotic): pupils depend on the dominant drug and can shift during the stop |
Medical conditions that mimic impairment
| Condition | The tell |
|---|---|
| Head trauma | Asymmetry — unequal pupils, unequal tracking, one-sided droop |
| Stroke | One-sided deficits · FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, Time |
| Diabetes | Clammy, confused, fruity/acetone breath — call 9-1-1; sugar normalizes a diabetic, never a drunk |
| Shock | Dazed, uncoordinated, non-responsive — medical emergency |
| MS / neuro disorders | Ataxia, tremors, slurred speech — but subject stays ALERT |
| Mental health | Anxiety mimics stimulants; depression mimics depressants; may coexist with impairment |
The road to certification
- DRE Pre-School (2 days / 16 hrs)SFST proficiency verified; intro to the 12-step process and the matrix. Your instructors said it plainly: show up with the matrix already memorized.
- DRE School (7 days / 56 hrs)The academic block — all seven categories in depth, physiology, vital signs, dark-room exams. Ends with a comprehensive written exam and reproducing the matrix from a blank chart.
- Certification phase (field evaluations)Supervised evaluations on live subjects (minimum 12, hitting at least 3 of the 7 categories, with a 75%+ toxicological corroboration rate), a final knowledge exam, and instructor sign-off. Recertify every two years.
How you're doing
Recent matrix drills
No drills recorded yet — run one and it lands here.
Most-missed matrix cells
Misses will accumulate here — this list is your personal weak-spot map.
Quiz history
Finish a quiz to start the record.
Toughest quiz questions
Questions you miss most often show up here with their answers.
Flashcard decks
Use the Knew it / Missed it buttons on flashcards to build deck mastery stats.