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. 

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.

393 Results

Report ID Date Published Title Section Links
84 1982/ 06

A Statistical Model of Individual Accident Risk Prediction Using Driver Record, Territory and Other Biographical Factors

By: Raymond C. Peck & Jensen Kuan

To determine (1) the relative importance of territory, prior driving record, and other variables in predicting future accident involvement; and (2) whether a driver's area of residence is a fair and actuarially sound rating factor.

IV
76.1 1981/ 12

An Abstract of Design and Evaluation of a Crash Prediction Strategy

By: Edward J. McConnell & Roger E. Hagen Administration

To define and validate a method of identifying groups of high-risk drivers which yields a more effective crash prediction model than the Department's negligent-operator (neg-op) point system.

IV
79.1 1981/ 12

An Abstract of Factors Associated with Fatal Accident Involvement Among California Drivers – ABSTRACT 1 / 2

By: Marilee E. Garretson & Raymond C. Peck

To identify possible factors of fatal accident causation and to isolate common patterns or characteristics for use in developing accident countermeasures.

IV
79 1981/ 12

Factors Associated with Fatal Accident Involvement Among California Drivers

By: Marilee E. Garretson & Raymond C. Peck

To identify possible factors of fatal accident causation and to isolate common patterns or characteristics for use in developing accident countermeasures.

IV
77.1 1981/ 12

An Abstract of An Evaluation of Three Alternative Formats for Probation Violation Hearings

By: Rickey L. Williams & Roger E. Hagen

To develop and evaluate new formats hearings which incorporate behavior caseload-scheduling approach. for negligent operator probation violator modificatiol1 principles and a client

III
77 1981/ 12

An Evaluation of Three Alternative Formats for Probation Violation Hearings

By: Rickey L. Williams & Roger E. Hagen

To develop and evaluate new formats hearings which incorporate behavior caseload-scheduling approach. for negligent operator probation violator modificatiol1 principles and a client

III
80 1981/ 12

Traffic Safety Impact of the Extension of Driver Licenses by Mail for Renewal Applicants with Clean Prior Driving Records

By: Mary K. Janke & Shara Lynn Kelsey

To evaluate the traffic safety impact of extending driver licenses by mail for drivers with clean prior four-year records.

II
IM5 1981/ 11

Use Tax Survey

By: Mary K. Janke

To compare reported purchase prices in use-tax transactions with wholesale Kelley Blue Book prices, in order to determine whether purchasers of used vehicles from private parties tended to underreport the amount they paid.

VII
NRN023 1981/ 10

Review of “An Appraisal of San Diego County SB 38 Participant DUI Recidivism and Traffic Accident Involvement”

By: Raymond C. Peck

To communicate to the drunk driving rehabilitation community some evaluation defects in the above study which limit the conclusions that can be reached, and to increase knowledge of evaluation research methodology.

III
IM4 1981/ 07

An Estimate of the Rate at Which Vehicle Values Depreciate for Use in Calculating Vehicle License Fees

By: Michael Ratz

To determine how much vehicle license fee (VLF) revenue is lost due to the VLF depreciation structure underestimating the actual retail value of used vehicles.

VII