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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 145 | 1995/ 01 |
1995 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA DUI MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMIn this fourth annual report, 1992 and 1993 DUI data from several diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data and monitoring system. This report presents crosstabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, court sanctions, administrative actions and alcohol-involved accidents. In addition, this report provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative court and administrative sanctions (including alcohol treatment programs and license actions) upon the postconviction records of first and second DUI offenders. The postconviction driving records of DUI offenders arrested in 1989, 1991, and 1992 were evaluated for four-, two-, and one-year periods, respectively. |
V | |
| 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 | |
| 142 | 1994/ 01 |
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRUG ARRESTS AND DRIVING RISKThis study compared the driving records of 106,214 persons arrested for drug offenses in 1989 with 41,493 comparison drivers drawn from the general driving population. The drug arrestees were grouped according to the six summary offense categories used by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which were felony narcotics, marijuana, dangerous drugs, and other drugs, and misdemeanor marijuana and other drugs. Time periods examined were 1 year pre-arrest, 1 year post-arrest and 2 years post-arrest. Each drug arrestee group had significantly more traffic violations and total accidents than the control group, except for 2 year post-arrest accidents for the felony narcotics group. Measures of accident culpability showed drug arrestees to be more responsible for the accidents in which they were involved than was the general driving population. Individuals arrested for drug offenses clearly pose an elevated traffic safety risk. These findings provide a public safety justification for state and federal initiatives designed to institute driver licensing actions against drug offenders, and support for the implementation of Public Law 101-516 in California. |
V | |
| 141 | 1993/ 09 |
Teen and Senior Drivers – Report 141This report updates information on teen and senior drivers published in earlier California Department of Motor Vehicles' reports. Teen Driver Facts (Huston, 1986), Senior Driver Facts (Huston & Janke, 1986), and Teen and Senior Drivers (romanowicz & Gebers, 1990). The information is meant to assist Highway safety administrators in making program and policy decisions affecting teen and senior drivers, and may also be of use to the insurance industry, traffic safety researchers, and the general public. The report also summarizes research on risk-taking and alcohol consumption among teen drivers and on the increase in impairment of driving-related abilities among senior driers. Countermeasures for teen and senior drivers are also discussed. |
VI | |
| 138 | 1993/ 01 |
1993 Annual Report of the California DUI Management Information SystemTo continue the publication of a yearly comprehensive data and monitoring system (or management information system) to provide measures of DUI system performance. |
V | |
| 134 | 1992/ 01 |
1992 Annual Report of the California DUI Management Information SystemTo start the publication of a yearly comprehensive data and monitoring system (or management information system) to provide measures of DUI system performance. |
V | |
| 133 | 1991/ 11 |
The Traffic Safety Impact of TVS Citation DismissalsTo reassess the traffic safety impact of California's policy of dismissing and masking traffic citations in lieu of completing a DMV-licensed traffic violator school program. |
III | |
| 132 | 1990/ 10 |
Summary of Proceedings of the Conference on Driver Competency Assessment, October 24-26, 1990, San Diego, CaliforniaTo present presentations given at this conference, which represents the second phase in a long-range effort to enhance the competency of the California driving public. |
VII | |
| 131 | 1991/ 11 |
Uninsured Motorists: Their Rate and Cost to Insured MotoristsTo calculate the rate of uninsured motorists statewide and in selected regions of the state where possible, to estimate the costs incurred by insured motorists as a result of accidents caused by uninsured motorists, and to determine the average insurance policy premium cost for an insured motorist. |
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 |