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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRN053 | 1987/ 10 |
Strategies for Increasing the Traffic Safety Potential of the Negligent Operator Point SystemTo explore and evaluate several strategies for identifying high-risk drivers based upon different definitions of negligent-operator point count. |
IV | |
| 113 | 1987/ 09 |
Traffic Violator School Dismissals: The Effects of Citation Masking on Accident-Risk Assessment and on the Volume of Department of Motor Vehicles’ License Control ActionsTo evaluate the effects of citation masking on accident-risk assessment and on the volume of Department of Motor Vehicles' license control actions. |
III | |
| IR1 | 1987/ 08 |
Use of Proxy Measures in Evaluating Post licensing Control TreatmentsTo describe and evaluate the usefulness of alternative (accident proxy) measures in traffic safety studies. |
III | |
| NRN098 | 1987/ 04 |
A Queueing Model of Customer Waiting Time in DMV Field OfficesTo develop a computerized queueing model for use in DMV field offices for possible reduction of customer waiting time. |
VII | |
| 111 | 1987/ 01 |
Accident and Conviction Rates of Visually Impaired Heavy Vehicle OperatorsThis study was designed to determine whether waiving the federal static acuity standard adversely impacted traffic safety. Drivers for whom the standard was waived could drive commercially only within California. Two-year accident and conviction rates of visually impaired commercial heavyvehicle operators (class 1 or 2 licensees) were compared to those of a sample of visually nonimpaired commercial heavy-vehicle operators. Nonimpaired drivers met current federal acuity standards (corrected acuity of 20/40 or better in both eyes), while impaired drivers had substandard static acuity and were classified as either moderately (corrected acuity between 20/40 and 20/200 in the worse eye) or severely (corrected acuity worse than 20/200 in the worse eye) impaired. California and total mileage estimates for Class 1 and Class 2 drivers obtained in a mailed questionnaire did not differ significantly between impairment groups. However, other potentially biasing factors remained and are discussed. Analysis of covariance, with age as a covariate, revealed that on subsequent two-year driver records the visually impaired drivers had significantly, and substantially, more total accidents and convictions than did the nonimpaired drivers. Severely impaired drivers had directionally worse driver records than did the moderately impaired drivers on three of the four traffic safety measures assessed, but these differences were not statistically significant. Study findings led to qualified support for the stricter federal standard, particularly in the case of the severely impaired heavy-vehicle operator. |
VI | |
| 95 | 1986/ 12 |
An Evaluation of the Specific Deterrent Effects of Alternative Sanctions for First and Repeat DUI Offenders (Volume 3 of “An Evaluation of the California Drunk Driving Countermeasure System”)To evaluate the relative effectiveness of the licensing actions and sanctions established by Assembly Bill (AB) 541 on January 1, 1982 for first and repeat DUI offenders. |
III | |
| NRN032 | 1986/ 12 |
Pilot Test of Four Written Driver License Knowledge TestsTo provide technical assistance to the Division of Headquarters Operations in pilot testing four of the Department's written driver license examinations and to provide test and item statistics. |
III | |
| NRN010 | 1986/ 12 |
Evaluation of Driver License Knowledge TestsTo pilot-test four of the Department's written knowledge examinations for driver licensure and provide test and item statistics. |
II | |
| NRN076 | 1986/ 11 |
Mature Driver Core Curriculum Project Literature ReviewTo review the technical literature on the driving performance of elderly people, as an aid to setting up the curriculum for California's Mature Driver Improvement Program. |
VI | |
| 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 |