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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRN003 | 1978/ 07 |
IIHS Study on Driver Education: Fact or Fiction?To point out some critical limitations of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's study on driver training. |
I | |
| 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 | |
| NRN001 | 1973/ 12 |
California Driver Training Evaluation Study (Assembly Bill 1486, Veysey)The California Driver Training Evaluation Study was established by Assembly Bill (AB) 1486 (1969 General Session, Veysey) for the purpose of comparing benefits and costs of behind-the-wheel driver training, as given in California high schools by certified high school teachers, with that given by licensed commercial driving school instructors. Additionally, the bill specified a comparison of the standard six-hour training, or its legal simulator-assisted substitute (short training program) with an enriched program providing four extra hours behind-the-wheel (long training program). |
I | |
| ACR67 | 1971/ 01 |
Report to the California State Legislature, in Accord with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 67, 1969 Legislative Session, WakefieldTo comply with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 67, (1960 Legislative Session) by conducting a pilot study of the effects of waiving the knowledge test for renewal applicants. |
II | |
| 137.1 | 1992/ 12 |
Negligent-Operator Treatment Evaluation System – Program Effectiveness Report No. 6 (Detailed Findings)To implement and maintain an automated on-line evaluation system for monitoring the effectiveness of the negligent-operator (neg-op) program and to issue periodic reports which present program cost and impact data for this program. |
III | |
| 117.1 | 1988/ 12 |
Negligent-Operator Treatment Evaluation System – Program Effectiveness Report S4 (Detailed Findings)To implement and maintain an automated on-line evaluation system for monitoring the effectiveness of the negligent-operator (neg-op) program and to issue periodic reports which present program cost and impact data for this program. |
III | |
| 106.1 | 1986/ 05 |
An Abstract of Licensing Novice Motorcyclists: A Comparison of the Traffic Safety Impact of California’s Standard Test and the MOST II (Motorcycle Operator Skill Test) Administered at Centralized Testing OfficesTo clarify issues raised in the Anderson et al. study, "Improved Motorcyclist Licensing and Testing Project," to answer the following two questions: 1) Would the MOST II reduce accidents and convictions when compared to California's standard skill test? 2) Would there be an accident reduction which was independent of the reduction in instruction permit and license issuance rates resulting from the inconvenience of being required to travel to another location to be tested? |
II | |
| 93.1 | 1985/ 03 |
An Abstract of License Extensions for Clean-Record Drivers: A Four-Year Follow-UpTo evaluate the traffic safety effect of extending driver licenses by mail for drivers with clean prior four-year records. |
II | |
| 91.1 | 1984/ 03 |
An Abstract of The Traffic Safety Impact of Driver Improvement Countermeasures Targeting 55-MPH Speed Limit ComplianceThe overall objectives of this study were twofold: (1) to evaluate a speed-oriented home instruction/point reduction incentive program (HI/PRI) and a speed education meeting (SEM) as alternatives to the group educati onal meeting (GEM) for ne gligent operators, and (2) to evaluate the effects of a modified speed compliance HI/PRI program on repeat speed offenders. |
III | |
| 90.1 | 1984/ 04 |
An Abstract of The Long-Term Traffic Safety Impact of Pilot Alcohol Abuse Treatment as an Alternative to License Suspensions (Volume 2 of “An Evaluation of the California Drunk Driving Countermeasure System”)To evaluate the long-term traffic safety effects of participating in a Senate Bill (SB) 330 drunk driver program in lieu of receiving a mandatory license suspension or revocation. |
III |