What is the key consideration during phase 2 of a sobriety evaluation?

The key consideration during phase 2 of a sobriety evaluation is whether the driver should exit the vehicle. This phase is critical as it involves assessing the situation further once initial observations have been made. Officers make this decision based on the behavior and condition of the driver observed during phase 1. If the driver displays signs of impairment, the officer may direct them to exit the vehicle for further evaluation, which typically includes standardized field sobriety tests.

Moving the evaluation to outside the vehicle allows law enforcement to observe the driver's physical coordination and behavior more closely, which can be indicators of impairment. This phase helps ensure the safety of both the officer and the driver, as well as to gather more evidence that may be necessary for any subsequent legal actions or charges.

Other considerations like checking for vehicle damage, assessing road conditions, or determining the time of the stop, while potentially relevant in the overall context of the traffic stop, do not specifically pertain to the objectives of phase 2 in evaluating the driver's sobriety.