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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 208 | 2004/ 04 |
Department of Motor Vehicles Post-Licensing Control Management Information System Fiscal Year 2002/2003This is the second periodic management information system (MIS) report regarding the operations of the Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) Administrative Per Se license suspension program. |
V | |
| 193 | 2002/ 01 |
Department of Motor Vehicles Post-Licensing Control Management Information System Fiscal Year 2000/2001An early Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) study (Poon, 1979) described the need for operational process measures to be tracked over time to provide departmental management with objective measures for assessing the success of departmental operations in meeting management expectations. |
V | |
| NRN002 | 1974/ 01 |
Defensive Driving as a Prerequisite for Licensing (Assembly Concurrent Resolution 94, Deddeh)To comply with a legislative resolution requesting DMV to conduct a study relating to the desirability of making completion of a course in defensive driving a requirement for persons seeking to obtain a California driver's license. |
I | |
| 252 | 2017/ 02 |
Crash Risks of Drivers with Physical and Mental (P&M) Conditions and Changes in Crash Rates Over TimeThis study reviews recent research evaluating traffic safety in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy, syncope, dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, and sleep disorders. Additionally, this study evaluates the crash risk of drivers identified as having a physical or mental condition which may affect their ability to drive safely, and compared these findings to previous DMV reports which evaluated crash risk in this population. Research has repeatedly demonstrated that these drivers have a higher crash rate relative to the general population of drivers (Janke, Peck, & Dryer, 1978; Janke, 1993; Mitchell & Gebers, 2001). Crash rates for all drivers referred to DMV for a medical condition in the 2007 calendar year, and were assigned a P&M code (alcohol, drugs, lack of skill, lapses of consciousness, mental condition, or physical conditions) on their driving record were compared to crash rates for the general population of drivers. The mean crash rate for each of the P&M groups was higher than both the general population of drivers (7 per 100 drivers) and males under 25 (10 per 100 drivers). Relative to prior DMV studies, mean crash rates for drivers with a P&M designation of drug addiction, lapses of consciousness, and mental condition had dropped. A logistic regression where age and sex were controlled demonstrated an increased crash risk for each of the P&M conditions ranging from 2.8 to 13.3 times higher than the general population, with individuals with a mental condition having the lowest odds ratio and lack of skill having the highest odds ratio. The odds ratios for all conditions were higher than observed in prior DMV studies. One reason for this increase was an observed decrease in crash rates for the general population of drivers which did not correspond to a drop in crash rates for drivers with a P&M condition. Future research needs to evaluate the specific medical conditions within each P&M designation to better understand the relationship between medical conditions and crash risk in this population of drivers. |
VI | |
| NRN066 | 1969/ 12 |
Conviction Rate for a Sample of Citations Issued by the California Highway PatrolTo gain information on the composition and disposition of citations issued by the California Highway Patrol for violations of California's road laws. |
V | |
| 25 | 1966/ 06 |
Control of the Negligent Driver–Part III: Six Year After Action Driving RecordTo examine the percentage of drivers who either remained in or returned to the negligent driver category after original action; to arrive at a profile of the drivers who remained negligent drivers. |
III | |
| 11 | 1962/ 10 |
Control of the Negligent Driver–Part II: Driving Performance of Negligent DriversTo make thorough and comparative analyses of performance of negligent drivers before and after departmental action, and of the differences, if any, associated with age, type of action taken, mileage driven, occupation, sex, type of license, and other factors or combinations of factors. |
III | |
| 08 | 1961/ 02 |
Control of the Negligent Driver–Part I: Characteristics of Negligent DriversTo discover if there are characteristics differentiating negligent drivers from the "average" driver, and if relationships exist between actual driving performance and mileage driven, occupation, age, or sex. |
III | |
| NRN077 | 1988/ 01 |
Conference on The Control and Management of High Risk DriversTo clarify and expand the body of knowledge on the management of high risk drivers by bringing together a body of leading experts in a conference session format. |
VI | |
| NRN096 | 1986/ 07 |
Conceptual Plan for an Integrated Management Information System(1) To demonstrate the utility of, and need for, an integrated management information system, (2) to implement a rudimentary system as a demonstration of the feasibility of developing a full-fledged management information system, and (3) to chart a course for the future development of a management information system. |
VII |