Research Studies & Reports
DMV’s Research & Development Branch has been conducting research and producing studies and reports since the 1950s. Research & Development reports help DMV to measure the impact of new laws on making drivers safer. We also identify areas where we can improve our processes, explore new approaches to solving existing problems, and branch out into new opportunities to serve you better.
Studies & Reports Sections
Studies and reports are assigned to a Section that best describes the type of report. Click on a section title below to see a short description.
I. Driver Education & Training Studies
II. Driver Licensing Screening Studies
III. Studies on Improvement and Control of Deviant Drivers
IV. Basic Research & Methodological Studies: Driver Performance, Accident Etiology, Prediction Models, and Actuarial Applications
V. Driver Licensing / Control Systems & Safety Management Studies
VI. Studies on Special Driver Populations
VII. Miscellaneous Studies & Reports
Request printed copies of studies and reports by mail at:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Research and Development Branch
2415 1st Ave. Mail Station: F-126
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 914-8125
Please include the report number, the number of copies requested, and your name, address, and phone number.
| Report ID | Date Published | Title | Section | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 168 | 1997/ 12 |
Teen and Senior Drivers – Report 168This report updates information on teen and senior drivers published in earlier California Department of Motor Vehicles' reports, Teen Driver Facts (Huston, 1986), Senior Driver Facts (Huston & Janke, 1986), and Teen and Senior Drivers (Romanowicz & Gebers, 1990; Gebers, Romanowicz, & McKenzie, 1993). The information is meant to assist highway safety administrators in making program and policy decisions affecting teen and senior drivers, and may also be of use to the insurance industry, traffic safety researchers, and the general public. The report also summarizes research on risk-taking and alcohol consumption among teen drivers and on the increase in impairment of driving-related abilities among senior drivers. Countermeasures for teen and senior drivers are also discussed. |
VI | |
| 141 | 1993/ 09 |
Teen and Senior Drivers – Report 141This report updates information on teen and senior drivers published in earlier California Department of Motor Vehicles' reports. Teen Driver Facts (Huston, 1986), Senior Driver Facts (Huston & Janke, 1986), and Teen and Senior Drivers (romanowicz & Gebers, 1990). The information is meant to assist Highway safety administrators in making program and policy decisions affecting teen and senior drivers, and may also be of use to the insurance industry, traffic safety researchers, and the general public. The report also summarizes research on risk-taking and alcohol consumption among teen drivers and on the increase in impairment of driving-related abilities among senior driers. Countermeasures for teen and senior drivers are also discussed. |
VI | |
| 256 | 2018/ 10 |
2016 Annual Report of the California DUI Management Information SystemIn this twenty-fifth annual legislatively-mandated report, 2013 and 2014 driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) data from diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data reference and monitoring system. This report presents cross-tabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, court sanctions, license suspension/revocation actions, and alcohol- or drug-involved crashes. In addition, this report provides 1-year proportions of DUI recidivism and crash rates for first and second DUI offenders arrested in each year over a time period of 24 years. Also, the long-term recidivism curves of the cumulative proportions of DUI reoffenses are shown for all DUI offenders arrested in 1994. Two analyses were conducted to evaluate if referrals to DUI programs were associated with reductions in 1-year subsequent DUI incidents and crashes among those convicted of the reduced charge of alcohol- or drug-related reckless driving, and if referrals to the 9-month DUI program were associated with reductions in 1-year subsequent DUI incidents and crashes when compared to referrals to the 3-month DUI program among first DUI offenders. The proportions of convicted first and second DUI offenders arrested in 2013, who were referred, enrolled, and completed DUI programs are also presented. |
V | |
| 121 | 1989/ 09 |
Development of a California DUI Management Information SystemTo develop the design specifications for a comprehensive California Dill management information system. |
V | |
| 138 | 1993/ 01 |
1993 Annual Report of the California DUI Management Information SystemTo continue the publication of a yearly comprehensive data and monitoring system (or management information system) to provide measures of DUI system performance. |
V | |
| 146 | 1995/ 01 |
AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CALIFORNIA DRINKING DRIVER PROGRAMSThere has been longstanding interest in determining which sanctions work best to reduce drunk driving. This study, mandated by the California Legislature (SB 1344) and funded by the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (DADP), examined the degree to which first offender, SB 38 and 30-month drinking driver programs (DDPs) in California reduced drunk driving recidivism, relative to other sanctions, such as driver license suspension. Based on the findings from this study, as well as those from prior research, this report recommends combining alcohol treatment with driver license actions as the best strategy for reducing drunk driving recidivism and enhancing overall traffic safety. |
V | |
| 159 | 1996/ 01 |
1996 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA DUI MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMIn this fifth annual report, 1993 and 1994 DUI data from several diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data and monitoring system. This report presents crosstabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, court sanctions, administrative actions and alcohol-involved accidents. In addition, this report provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative court and administrative sanctions (including alcohol treatment programs and license actions) upon the postconviction records of first and second DUI offenders. The postconviction driving records of DUI offenders arrested in 1989, 1991, and 1993 were evaluated for five-, three-, and one-year periods, respectively. |
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| 167 | 1997/ 01 |
THE SPECIFIC DETERRENT IMPACT OF CALIFORNIA’S 0.08% BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION LIMIT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PER SE LICENSE SUSPENSION LAWSThis project evaluated the impact of two new California driving-under-the-influence (DUI) laws on the subsequent alcohol-related accident and recidivism rates of apprehended DUI offenders. The first law, effective January 1, 1990, reduced the state’s illegal per se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit to 0.08% and the second, effective just six months later, on July 1, 1990, imposed an administrative per se (APS) pre-conviction license suspension on arrested DUI offenders. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the specific deterrent impact of the new laws by comparing the subsequent recidivism and alcohol-related accident rates of DUI offenders arrested before and after implementation of the new laws. |
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| 169 | 1997/ 01 |
1998 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA DUI MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMIn this seventh annual legislatively mandated report, 1995 and 1996 DUI data from diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data and monitoring system. This report presents crosstabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, court sanctions, administrative actions and alcohol-involved accidents. In addition, this report provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative court and administrative sanctions (including alcohol treatment programs and license actions) upon the postconviction records of first and second DUI offenders. The postconviction driving records of DUI offenders arrested in 1989, 1993, and 1995 were evaluated for seven-, three-, and one-year periods, respectively. |
V | |
| 188 | 2001/ 01 |
2001 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA DUI MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMIn this tenth annual legislatively mandated report, 1998 and 1999 DUI data from diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data reference and monitoring system. This report presents crosstabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, court sanctions, administrative actions and alcohol-involved accidents. In addition, this report provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative court and administrative sanctions (including alcohol treatment programs and license actions) upon the 1-year postconviction records of first and second DUI offenders over a time period of nine years. The postconviction driving records of second DUI offenders arrested in 1996 and 1998 were evaluated for three- and one-year periods, respectively. |
V |