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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
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| NRN073 | 1975/ 06 |
A Customized Approach to the Drinking Driver (Senate Concurrent Resolution 44 – Harmer)(1) to explore the validity and effectiveness of drinking-driver classification systems, (2) to evaluate the use of medical advisory boards to classify drinking drivers, and (3) to evaluate various drinking-driver programs. |
VI | |
| 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. |
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| NRN079 | 1990/ 03 |
Drugs and Traffic Safety: Is There a Nexus?To examine the evidence for a connection, causal or otherwise, between drug use and accidents. |
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| NRN082 | 1993/ 01 |
Reportable Medical Conditions and Driver RiskTo describe California's medical reporting law, discuss the literature on medical conditions and crash risk, and present crash rates of California's medically impaired drivers and some aspects of how California DMV deals with medically enhanced driver risk. |
VI | |
| 240 | 2013/ 03 |
Teen and Senior Drivers – Report 240This report updates statistical information on California teen and senior drivers as published in earlier reports prepared by the California Department of Motor Vehicles: Teen Driver Facts (Huston, 1986), Senior Driver Facts (Huston & Janke, 1986), Teen and Senior Drivers (Romanowicz & Gebers, 1990; Gebers, Romanowicz, & McKenzie, 1993; Aizenberg & McKenzie, 1997 [with the Beverly Foundation]; and Janke, Masten, McKenzie, Gebers, & Kelsey, 2003). 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 international research on the driving safety and driving-related abilities of teen and senior drivers, and on crash countermeasures for these two groups. |
VI | |
| 126 | 1990/ 10 |
Teen and Senior Drivers – Report 126To provide highway safety administrators, insurance industry representatives, and researchers in the field of traffic safety with information for developing program and policy decisions. |
VI | |
| 81.1 | 1986/ 01 |
Teen Driver Facts – Report 81.1To provide a quick reference on the characteristics of teenage drivers. |
VI | |
| 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. |
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| 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 |