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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | 1994/ 08 |
An Inventory of California Driver Accident Risk FactorsThis report is a statistical compilation of accident-risk factors identified through a preliminary analysis of driver record information extracted in May 1992, providing driving record information through December 1991. The information is presented in relatively raw tabular form with minimal narrative and interpretation. The goal is to provide report recipients and users with a comprehensive array of up-to-date accidentrisk information. More formal and comprehensive analyses will be published at a later date. |
IV | |
| 155 | 1995/ 08 |
California’s Negligent Operator Treatment Program Evaluation System, 1976-1995 (An Overview of Findings and Program Improvements)This report represents a chronological review of an evaluation system which was initiated in the early 1970's and which was terminated at the end of 1994. Originally known as the Post Licensing Control Reporting and Evaluation System (PLCRES ) and later as the Negligent Operator Treatment Evaluation System (NOTES), it produced a large number of evaluation reports over the period 1976-1995. In 1982, departmental research staff received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Award of Honor in recognition of the contributions of PLCRES reports to evaluation research literature. |
IV | |
| 192 | 2002/ 01 |
Development of a Driver License Application Management Information SystemThis project investigated the possibility of developing a conceptual off-line management information system that would contain selected driver licensing information from the Driver License (DL) Master File and, if feasible, from field office electronic databases and possibly existing aggregate-level statistical reports. If developed, the database would be reflective of the statewide driver licensing program, containing data on all, or a large random sample of, licensing process activity throughout the state. The proposed database would be able to provide descriptive measures and statistical data related to the driver licensing process. In the event that departmental management decides to proceed with implementation of the proposed database, funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety would need to be requested and provided for the next stage, Stage II, of the project. The implementation schedule for Stage II is provided in this report. Specifically, Stage II will involve the creation of a prototype DL Application Management Information System Database, which will include collecting actual application data and producing trial information and example statistical reports as a demonstration and validation of the prototype system. |
IV | |
| 20.5 | 1965/ 06 |
The 1964 California Driver Record Study (Part 5: Driver Record by Age, Sex and Marital Status)The basic purpose of the overall study was threefold: (1) to provide data for operational and budgetary planning, (2) to provide basic descriptive and baseline data on drivers and driving record variables, and (3) to further understanding and knowledge about the nature and causes of traffic accidents. |
IV | |
| 20.7 | 1966/ 03 |
The 1964 California Driver Record Study (Part 7: The Relationship Between Types of Convictions and Accidents)The basic purpose of the overall study was threefold: (1) to provide data for operational and budgetary planning, (2) to provide basic descriptive and baseline data on drivers and driving record variables, and (3) to further understanding and knowledge about the nature and causes of traffic accidents |
IV | |
| 20.8 | 1967/ 01 |
The 1964 California Driver Record Study (Part 8: The Prediction of Accident Involvement Using Concurrent Driver Record Data)The basic purpose of the overall study was threefold: (1) to provide data for operational and budgetary planning, (2) to provide basic descriptive and baseline data on drivers and driving record variables, and (3) to further understanding and knowledge about the nature and causes of traffic accidents. |
IV | |
| 200 | 2002/ 11 |
An Examination of the Characteristics and Traffic Risk of Drivers Suspended/Revoked for Different ReasonsOne measure that has traditionally been used to better control drunk and other high-risk drivers has been to suspend or revoke their privilege to drive. However, because the driving privilege is so highly valued, an increasing number of new laws have been passed which prescribe license suspension/revocation as a punishment for a variety of offenses, including some completely unrelated to driving. This has created a diverse group of suspended/revoked drivers. Prior research has demonstrated that suspended/revoked drivers pose a significant traffic risk, but until now little has been known about whether, and if so how, this risk varies as a function of the reason for suspension/revocation. This study classifies suspended/revoked drivers into subgroups based on their reason for suspension/revocation, and then develops demographic and driving risk profiles for each group. Separate risk profiles are developed for the following traffic safety indicators, measured 3 years prior to the suspension/revocation action; 1) total crashes, 2) fatal/injury crashes, 3) total traffic convictions, and 4) total incidents (crashes + convictions). The findings clearly show that: 1) suspended/revoked drivers are a heterogeneous group, both demographically and in their driving behavior; 2) some suspended drivers, such as those suspended/revoked for a non-driving offense, have low traffic risks that are comparable to those of validlylicensed drivers, and; 3) all suspended groups have elevated crash and conviction rates, compared to validly-licensed drivers. The implications of these findings for current laws and policies targeting suspended/revoked drivers are discussed, and recommendations for improving these laws/policies are presented. |
IV | |
| 204 | 2003/ 10 |
An Inventory of California Driver Accident Risk FactorsThis report updates information on a random sample of licensed California drivers as published in an earlier report prepared by the California Department of Motor Vehicles: An inventory of California driver accident risk factors (Gebers & Peck, 1994). It is designed to provide highway safety administrators, insurance industry representatives, and researchers in the field of traffic safety with information for developing program and policy decisions. This report presents driver record information on a random sample of over 200,000 California drivers and driver record histories over varying time periods. The report addresses the following issues related to the assessment of traffic accident risk: • Driver record in relation to gender and age. • Accident-repeater phenomenon. • Relationship between traffic accidents and citations. • Relationship between traffic accidents and multiple driver record variables (e.g., prior accidents and citations, sex, and license class). • Multiple logistic and negative binomial regression equations of accident risk factors and relativities. Findings presented in the report confirmed that prior total citation frequency continues to be the most significant predictor of accident involvement, followed by prior accident involvement frequency. Increased accident involvement was shown to be associated with increased prior citation and accident frequencies, possessing a commercial driver license, being young, being male, having a medical condition on record, and having a physician referral for low visual-acuity on record. |
IV | |
| 39 | 1973/ 03 |
The Prediction of Accident Liability through Biographical Data and Psychometric TestsTo evaluate the role of human factors in traffic accidents. |
IV | |
| 49 | 1974/ 07 |
The Psychometric Prediction of Negligent Driver RecidivismTo determine whether the subsequent driving record of problem drivers could be predicted following a group driver improvement meeting, and to assess the contribution of psychometric and personality test variables in improving prediction. |
IV |