The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) was developed to meet the need for a consistent, structured, easily quantified interview questionnaire for the detection of alcoholism. The MAST consists of 25 questions which can be administered rapidly by nonprofessional as well as professional personnel. The effectiveness of the MAST was demonstrated in a previous study in which five groups of drivers were administered the MAST and the results validated by a record search in the courts, social service agencies, and medical facilities.

Other studies have shown that alcoholics are overrepresented among drivers involved in serious and fatal crashes. The MAST data were analyzed to determine whether the MAST could be used to detect high risk driving as well as problem drinking. MAST scores, which indicate the severity of alcoholism, did not correlate with increased accidents or moving violations. Nor were correlations found with higher accident risk using individual MAST questions or combinations of MAST questions as determined by multiple correlation and regression analysis. Significant variation, however, was found in moving violation and serious crash rates within the population of respondents with MAST scores in the alcoholic range.

It is apparent that evidence of problem drinking is insufficient to predict high risk driving. The effectiveness of the MAST in distinguishing between alcoholic and nonalcoholic persons leaves unresolved the problem of determining which persons within the alcoholic population are most likely to become involved in serious or fatal crashes. A high risk driving questionnaire which can be rapidly administered and easily scored will have to be developed to complement the MAST.