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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.6 | 1965/ 11 |
The 1964 California Driver Record Study (Part 6: The Stability of Reported Accidents and Citations)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 | |
| 201 | 2003/ 01 |
Comparison of Accident and Conviction Rates for Commercial Drivers Tested Under the Employer Testing Program and Commercial Drivers Tested by DMVThe Employer Testing Program (ETP) allows eligible employers to conduct drive tests and issue the Certificate of Driving Skills (DL 170) to commercial vehicle operators they employ. To participate in the program, an employer must demonstrate that their driving test and examiners meet standards set by DMV. Employers in the program are subject to annual inspections and audits by the department’s Intrastate Audits Unit. If any deficiencies on the part of the employer are found, the department may impose restrictions ranging from warning letters to revocation or cancellation of the employer’s testing authorization. Approximately 980 employers participate in this program, 60% of which are in the government sector (e.g., fire departments and Caltrans). To help in monitoring the program, the department’s Research and Development Branch compared the driving records of licensed commercial drivers tested under the ETP to commercial drivers tested by DMV. The remainder of this paper presents the methods and results of the driver record analyses and a discussion of the findings. |
IV | |
| 79.1 | 1981/ 12 |
An Abstract of Factors Associated with Fatal Accident Involvement Among California Drivers – ABSTRACT 1 / 2To identify possible factors of fatal accident causation and to isolate common patterns or characteristics for use in developing accident countermeasures. |
IV | |
| NRN040 | 1968/ 01 |
Factor Analysis of Driver RecordTo examine 18 variables and reduce them to a smaller number of representative basic dimensions. |
IV | |
| NRN041 | 1968/ 01 |
Driver Questionnaire Response Rate and Response Bias as a Function of Contact StrategyTo determine the optimum procedure for mailing questionnaires to drivers. |
IV | |
| NRN043 | 1969/ 01 |
The Relationship Between Field Dependence and Motor Vehicle Accident InvolvementTo determine if any relationship exists between motor vehicle accidents and a perceptual response style referred to as field dependence (measured on response to figure / ground stimuli). |
IV | |
| NRN057 | 1992/ 08 |
The California Driver Record Study: A Multiple Regression Analysis of Driver Record Histories from 1969 through 1982To provide a resource for researchers and statisticians having an interest in driver accident correlates and accident prediction modeling. |
IV | |
| NRN059 | 1993/ 01 |
Strengths and Limitations of Accident Data in a Drivers License SettingTo elucidate for the transportation research community the importance and limitations of using accident data in making driver licensing decisions. |
IV | |
| NRN065 | 1996/ 01 |
DUI Educational and Rehabilitation Program Effectiveness-A Review of California ExperienceTo review the California research evidence on the relative effectiveness of Dill treatment programs, and to present an overview for traffic safety practitioners and policymakers in New Mexico. |
IV | |
| 85 | 1983/ 06 |
Intervention Strategies for Accident-Involved Drivers: An Experimental Evaluation of Current California Policy and AlternativesTo evaluate standard and alternative strategies for selecting and treating accident-involved drivers in California. |
III |