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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRN038 | 1995/ 02 |
Driver License Strategies for Controlling the Persistent DUI OffenderTo develop improved methods of identifying and controlling "hard core" Dill offenders through driver licensing. |
III | |
| NRN020 | 1977/ 09 |
Driver License and Driver Improvement ProgramThe report attempts to conceptualize driver licensing programs into a series of administrative techniques which, if applied in a systematic fashion, should enhance road safety. The basic concept of the report is a recommended shift from a system of selection/ enforcement to a system which is more diagnostic and/or educational in nature. This means a shift from doing things to drivers to a program which operates constructively for drivers. |
III | |
| 72 | 1979/ 09 |
Driver Improvement: A Survey of Personnel, Procedures and Work ClimateTo survey factors which may have an influence on the outcome of the probation violator hearing project. |
III | |
| 239 | 2012/ 09 |
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JAIL SENTENCES AND JAIL TERMS ACTUALLY SERVED AMONG DUI OFFENDERS IN SELECTED CALIFORNIA COUNTIESRecords of 32.7% of California’s DUI offenders convicted in 2006, who received jail or a jail alternative sentence, were used to compare jail terms at sentencing to actual jail time served, and to describe used alternative sanctions to jail. County data systems’ variation, tracking methods, quality and completeness of data, and lack of communication between Courts and Sheriff’s Departments limited sample size and representativeness. Percentages of jail time served across participating counties ranged from 0 to 67% for 1st offenders, 0 to 47% for 2nd offenders, and 0 to 67% for 3rd+ offenders. Median percentages of jail sentences actually served across participating counties were 0%, 19%, and 38% for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd+ offenders, respectively. Alternative sentences were used more often on 1 st DUI offenders, less so on 2 nd offenders, and least often on 3 rd offenders. The most popular alternative sentences in lieu of jail options were Sheriff’s Work Program and Caltrans Work Program. Jail sentences reported to DMV greatly overstate amount of jail time actually served by DUI offenders. Further evaluation of effectiveness of jail time served by California DUI offenders is not possible at present because California’s DUI Offender Tracking System does not keep good track of offenders. Recommendations are: results from previous California DMV studies and/or studies from other states showing jail terms as ineffective in reducing alcohol-involved crashes or DUI recidivism should be taken with caution; efforts should be made so California’s DUI Offender Tracking System is consistent with NHTSA’s 2006 guidelines; DMV’s court abstract collection system should require jail terms keyed in, if disposition code “J” is present; DMV’s JAG project to assess accuracy and timeliness of DUI conviction data sent to DMV should be finished, and its findings used in conjunction of this study’s findings to enable the implementation of recommendations from NHTSA’s 2011 California Traffic Records Assessment. |
V | |
| NRN085 | 1994/ 07 |
Diabetes Mellitus and DrivingTo review the literature on insulin-treated diabetes and driving for members of a Medical Advisory Board subcommittee formulating guidelines for DMV Driver Safety in cases of diabetes mellitus. |
VI | |
| 129 | 1990/ 12 |
Development, Implementation and Evaluation of a Pilot Project to Better Control Disqualified DriversTo develop and evaluate better measures for controlling suspended or revoked drivers who continue to drive while disqualified. Project tasks included: 1) examining the suspended / revoked driver population and analyzing deficiencies in the license suspension enforcement system that allow disqualified drivers to escape detection, prosecution and conviction of driving while disqualified, 2) developing a pilot program consisting of measures to better control disqualified drivers (implemented in Ventura County, California for a period of 6 months), and 3) analyzing data on system processing of disqualified drivers, and on subsequent accidents and traffic convictions for this group, to provide a measure of the success of the pilot program. |
III | |
| DOT HS-806688 | 1984/ 12 |
Development of Knowledge and Performance Tests for Heavy Vehicle Operators: Volume I, Development and Field TestThis report describes the development and evaluation of the Truck Operator Qualifications Examination (TORQUE) consisting of the following tests: 1. Truck Operator Road Test (TORT); 2. Truck Operator Skill Test (TOST); 3. Truck Operator Manual (TOM); 4. Truck Operator Knowledge Examination (TOKE); 5. Truck Operator Pretest (TOP); 6. Truck Operator Defects Examination (TODE). The field-validation phase of the project was done in Los Angeles, California under a subcontract to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. |
VI | |
| 73 | 1980/ 02 |
Development of a Provisional Licensing Program for New California DriversTo examine the feasibility of provisional licensing procedures for new California drivers and to analyze potential program components. |
II | |
| 218 | 2005/ 11 |
Development of a Driver License Application Management Information System Stage IIThis project involved creating a prototype off-line driver license (DL) application management information system (MIS) that captured and stored extensive information on the driver license application process. From this prototype database, example reports were generated to demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a fully functional off-line DL application MIS that would be able to provide descriptive measures and statistical data related to the driver licensing process. In the event that Department of Motor Vehicles’ management decides to proceed with the creation of the proposed database, funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety would be requested for the next stage, Stage III, of the project. The implementation schedule for Stage III is provided in this report. Specifically, Stage III will involve addressing and correcting problems with the application transaction source data that were identified in this report and constructing a fully functional DL application MIS. |
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 |