and the answer is... (B) exit the vehicle but respectfully refuse to participate 16% [ 3 ]
not bad, considering that most people are confused as hell what their rights are when they get pulled over. they think they have to do whatever the cop says to do, or there will be dire consequences. the deal is, the field sobriety tests are designed to make you fail. plain and simple. it's about the cop thinking you're drunk and making you prove it (against the 5th ammendment to the constitution). a lot of cops have the dashboard cameras hooked up these days, so not only are you proving to the cop that you're drunk, but you are proving it to whomever decides to watch it at a later date. the videotape might even get entered into evidence against you if you put on enough of a performce.
understand that refusing to participate does not guarantee that the cop will not arrest you becuase he's confused by your lack of desire to prove to him that you're drunk by failing his tests, but he's convinced that you are drunk... that's ok, though, as you have a much better chance taking the breathalyzer (at a later time, i might add) - which you have to insist on doing, otherwise this bit was for nothing. the only thing that removes alcohol from your body is time, so the longer it is from the time you had your last drink until the time you take the breathalyzer, the better.
among other sources,
this is one that backs up my theory.