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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | 1985/ 03 |
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 | |
| 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 | |
| 92 | 1984/ 08 |
California Driver Survey: The Habits and Opinions of Drivers on Selected Traffic Safety Related IssuesTo collect information on driving exposure, socioeconomic factors, and attitudes about driving for a random sample of motorists. |
VII | |
| NRN091 | 1984/ 07 |
A Study of Alternative Strategies for Assessing Fees on Commercially Registered VehiclesThis study was initiated by the Division of Registration and Investigative Services. The scope of the study was subsequently broadened to meet the requirements of Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 11 of the 1983 legislative session. The final report for this study was submitted in July 1984. The objectives of this study were to: 1. develop a schedule for assessing weight fees on commercially registered power vehicles (6,500 or more pounds unladen) and trailers, based on declared laden or gross weight (GVW) of individual power vehicles and trailers (this schedule would replace the current unladen weight fee table; registration and vehicle license fees would continue to be collected); 2. develop a fee-assessment system for commercially registered power vehicles (6,500 or more pounds unladen) and trailers, based on the declared combined gross weight (CGW) of power vehicles (CGW would be declared for only power units and would include the total weight of the power unit, all trailing vehicles, if any, and all loads) and charging only a standard fee on each trailer (the CGW fee assessed on power vehicles and the trailer fee would replace the registration, vehicle license, and unladen weight fees currently collected on power vehicles and trailers); and 3. estimate the total 1985 revenue loss under a CGW fee schedule that would allow fees remaining on deleted interstate power vehicles to be credited toward fees due on their power vehicle replacements, and produce an adjusted CGW fee schedule that would recoup this revenue loss. |
VII | |
| 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 | |
| 90 | 1984/ 04 |
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 | |
| 89 | 1984/ 03 |
Analysis of DUI Processing from Arrest Through Post-Conviction Countermeasures (Volume 1 of “An Evaluation of the California Drunk Driving Countermeasure System”)(1) To develop process flow charts for the whole DUI system, depicting all elements and decision points concerning drivers, abstracts, and license actions involved in the reporting system, both before and after new legislation (AB 541) became effective on January I, 1982; (2) to describe the whole DUI system from the point of arrest to the driver record file, both before and after AB 541; (3) to identify areas or sources of system inefficiency or modes of circumvention of specified provisions, especially in the post-AB 541 system; and (4) to develop alternate solutions and associated recommendations. |
III | |
| 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 | |
| 91 | 1984/ 03 |
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 educational meeting (GEM) for negligent operators, and (2) to evaluate the effects of a modified speed compliance HI/PRI program on repeat speed offenders. |
III | |
| 88 | 1983/ 10 |
Extending Driver Licenses by Mail: A 36-month Follow-Up of Driver RecordsTo evaluate the traffic safety impact of extending driver licenses by mail for drivers with clean prior four-year records. |
II |