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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 247 | 2015/ 01 |
General Deterrent Evaluation of the Ignition Interlock Pilot Program in CaliforniaThis study presents a general deterrence evaluation of the ignition interlock pilot program mandated by Assembly Bill 91 for the counties of Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Tulare during the period of July 1, 2010 through January 1, 2016. This pilot program requires convicted first and repeat DUI offenders to install an IID on all vehicles they own or operate for a pre-specified time period in order to obtain a restricted, reissued, or reinstated driver’s license. The present study analyzes DUI conviction data from July 2007 through June 2013. The results indicate that IID installation rates among all DUI offenders increased dramatically in the pilot counties from 2.1% during the pre-pilot period to 42.4% during the pilot period. The results of the Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) analyses show that the IID pilot program was not associated with a reduction in the number of first-time and repeat DUI convictions in the pilot counties. In other words, no evidence was found that the pilot program has a general deterrence effect. A follow-up study is being conducted to determine if the pilot program has any specific deterrence effects. It is recommended that any subsequent legislative action on this subject take into consideration the findings of this specific deterrence evaluation. This evaluation is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2015. |
V | |
| 109 | 1986/ 09 |
Final Report to the Legislature of the State of California. The Relationship Between Blood Alcohol Concentration Level and Court Sanction Severity in Drunk Driving CasesTo provide the legislature with tabulations of sanction severity by blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level and license status for first and second DUI offenders, prior and subsequent to the enactment of Assembly Bill (AB) 144 (Naylor, 1985). |
III | |
| 189 | 2001/ 01 |
Feasibility of a Statewide Vehicle Impoundment DatabaseA 1997 DMV study evaluating the effectiveness of vehicle impoundment in California found that it was associated with significant declines in subsequent crashes, moving violation convictions and driving-while-suspended/driving-while-unlicensed convictions. However, apart from the information provided by this study, little else is known about vehicle impoundment in California, because there is no centralized statewide database of impoundment actions. A statewide database could provide information that could be used to monitor the integrity of vehicle impoundment in California, and also to assist Legislators in making informed policy decisions on impoundment. The purpose of the present study was to explore whether it is feasible to develop a statewide vehicle impoundment database, preferably using existing reporting sytems and databases so that the creation of the database would not add significant new tasks and responsibilities on law enforcement. An interagency task force was convened to explore the feasibility of creating a statewide impoundment database and, if feasible, to develop a model of the database. The task force determined that it is feasible to develop the database, and recommended that it be based upon an existing system in which law enforcement agencies report vehicle impoundment actions to the Department of Justice's Stolen Vehicle System database. A Memorandum of Understanding will be written by DMV staff and sent to the Office of Traffic Safety requesting funding to develop the database. |
III | |
| 79 | 1981/ 12 |
Factors Associated with Fatal Accident Involvement Among California DriversTo identify possible factors of fatal accident causation and to isolate common patterns or characteristics for use in developing accident countermeasures. |
IV | |
| NRN040 | 1968/ 01 |
Factor Analysis of Driver RecordTo examine 18 variables and reduce them to a smaller number of representative basic dimensions. |
IV | |
| 88 | 1983/ 10 |
Extending Driver Licenses by Mail: A 36-month Follow-Up of Driver RecordsTo evaluate the traffic safety impact of extending driver licenses by mail for drivers with clean prior four-year records. |
II | |
| 166 | 1995/ 05 |
Exploratory Multivariable Analyses ofCalifornia DriverRecord Accident RatesSince 1964, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has issued several monographs on driver characteristics and accident risk factors as part of a series of analyses known as the California Driver Record Study. This paper presents the results of a number of regression analyses of driving record variables measured over a 6-year time period (1986-91). The techniques presented consist of ordinary least squares, weighted least squares, Poisson, negative binomial, linear probability, and logistic regression models. T he objective of the analyses was to compare the results obtained from several different regression techniques under consideration for use in the in-progress California Driver Record Study. The results are informative in determining whether the various regression methods produce similar results for different sample sizes and to explore whether reliance on ordinary least squares techniques in past California Driver Record Study analyses have produced biased significance levels and parameter estimates. The results indicate that, for these data, the use of the different regression techniques do not lead to any greater increase in individual accident prediction beyond that obtained through application of ordinary least squares regression. In addition, the methods produce almost identical results in terms of the relative importance and statistical significance of the independent variables. It therefore appears safe to employ ordinary least squares multiple regression techniques on driver accident-count distributions of the type represented by California driver records, at least when the sample sizes are large. |
IV | |
| 59.1 | 1977/ 09 |
Executive Summary of The Effectiveness of License Suspension or Revocation for Drivers Convicted of Multiple Driving-Under-The-Influence Offenses (An Interim Report for the Evaluation of Senate Bill (SB) 330-Gregorio)To assess the efficacy of using mandated license actions for multiple DUI offenders as accident countermeasures. |
III | |
| 67.1 | 1978/ 09 |
Executive Summary of Medically Impaired Drivers: An Evaluation of California Policy (Senate Bill 2033 – Garcia)To evaluate the Department's licensing policies and practices relative to drivers with mental or physical conditions which might affect their ability to drive safely. |
VI | |
| 73.1 | 1980/ 02 |
Executive Summary of Development of a Provisional Licensing Program for New California DriversTo examine the feasibility of provisional licensing procedures for new California drivers and to analyze potential program components. |
II |