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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48.1 | 1976/ 10 |
Projected Motor Vehicle Registration & Drivers Licenses Outstanding 1976-2000To prepare a set of estimated vehicle registrations to 2000, by county, for each of the four classes of vehicles --passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers. |
VII | |
| 48 | 1974/ 10 |
Projected Motor Vehicle Registration & Drivers Licenses Outstanding 1970-1990The ownership of motor vehicles in California has long been used by economists, bankers, planners, and administrators at all levels of government and the private sector as an important measure of the State's economy. Members of these professions have continued to seek long-range estimates of vehicle registration data in order to forecast future growth and development of the State and to plan necessary facilities for this expected growth. This is the third set of estimates released by the department. In addition, for the second time, are included estimates on number of drivers license holders by county (to 1976) and statewide (to 1990). It is anticipated that these registration estimates will need revision at least every two years and perhaps more frequently should drastic changes occur in the base estimators. A multiple linear regression model was employed as the statistical tool to the development of the estimates. Separate equations were developed for each vehicle type (passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, trailers and motorcycles) for each of the 58 counties of California. The predictor variables used were total population and year. The county population estimates were provided by the department of Finance and reflect the statewide totals. |
VII | |
| 27 | 1968/ 04 |
Projected Motor Vehicle and Trailer Registration by County, 1967-1980To prepare a set of estimated vehicle registrations to 1980, by county, for each of the four classes of vehicles --passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers. |
VII | |
| 176 | 1998/ 05 |
PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE REFERRAL DRIVING PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PROGRAMThis report presents the results of a preliminary formative and process evaluation of the DPE referral drive test program. The purpose of the study was to develop descriptive measures of the Referral Driving Performance Evaluation (RDPE) process and, where possible, to determine whether the program guidelines are being followed, particularly the appropriate use of license restrictions and revocations following test failure. |
II | |
| NRN102 | 1988/ 08 |
Prediction of Field Office Telephone Staffing LevelsTo develop a regression model for staffing telephone operations in DMV field offices. |
VII | |
| 124 | 1989/ 10 |
Prediction of Driving Record following Two Major Convictions or Three Alcohol-Related IncidentsTo identify high-risk subgroups of drivers having two major convictions or three alcohol-related incidents. |
IV | |
| 33 | 1970/ 07 |
Prediction of Driving Behavior Following a Group Driver Improvement SessionTo determine the extent to which driving record subsequent to a driver improvement meeting could be predicted from a personality test and biographical questionnaire. |
IV | |
| 254 | 2017/ 07 |
Predicting Traffic Crash Involvement Using Individual Driving Habits, Driving Record, and Territorial Risk IndicesThis study surveyed a sample of California drivers to determine their habits and opinions on selected traffic issues. The study also assessed the importance of exposure and territorial risk indices as predictors of traffic crashes beyond that of driver record factors. The information provided in this report is intended to assist traffic safety administrators and lawmakers in improving services and in developing more effective driver safety programs. |
IV | |
| 164 | 1996/ 07 |
Predicting DUI Recidivism. Volume 2: The Incremental Utility of Non-Driver Record FactorsThis study determined if factors not available on the driver record are significant predictors of DUI recidivism in the presence of factors found on the driver record. The first substudy focused on alcohol assessment factors, while the second substudy focused on demographic and life-style factors. Alcohol assessment factors, including the MAST and CAGE tests, and the interviewer’s assessment of alcohol dependency, were not found to be significant predictors of 1-year DUI recidivism, while some demographic factors were found to be significant predictors. DUI recidivism was found to decrease with increasing years of education and with being employed full-time, while it increased with the number of prior alcohol or drug treatment experiences and being on active military duty status. Each substudy identified driver record factors which were also significant predictors of 1-year DUI recidivism. |
V | |
| 162 | 1996/ 05 |
Predicting DUI Recidivism. Volume 1: Blood Alcohol Concentration and Driver Record FactorsThis study examined the relationship between BAC at arrest, driving history, and other demographic factors, and the 1-year post-arrest probability of recidivism for DUI convictees. BAC-only prediction models, complex prediction models involving many factors found on the driver record, and simple prediction models containing two or three factors were developed. All models found a third degree or cubic relationship between BAC and recidivism, and showed recidivism to be high at a BAC of 0.00%, decreasing down to a BAC of about 0.09%, increasing to a BAC of about 0.29%, and then decreasing again to a BAC of 0.35%+. High rates of recidivism at high BACs suggest alcohol dependency, while at low BACs other impairing substances are likely to be involved. The mean rate of DUI recidivism for offenders who refused to be tested for alcohol was the same as the mean rate for BAC-tested offenders who had prior DUIs at the time of the arrest. |
V |