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
100 1985/ 10

Typological Analysis of California DUI Offenders and DUI Recidivism Correlates

By: Gary W. Arstein-Kerslake & Raymond C. Peck

To develop and cross-validate a statistical methodology for predicting DUI recidivism and DUI countermeasure-program compliance of convicted DUI offenders; to determine the extent to which meaningful subgroups of OUI offenders can be formed.

VI
113 1987/ 09

Traffic Violator School Dismissals: The Effects of Citation Masking on Accident-Risk Assessment and on the Volume of Department of Motor Vehicles’ License Control Actions

By: Michael A. Gebers, Helen N. Tashima & William C. Marsh

To evaluate the effects of citation masking on accident-risk assessment and on the volume of Department of Motor Vehicles' license control actions.

III
34 1970/ 06

Traffic Violations by Type, Age, Sex, and Marital Status

By: David M. Harrington & Robin S. McBride

To examine how the distribution of violation types varies with such basic demographic variables as age, sex, and marital status.

IV
126B 1996/ 01

Traffic Violation Patterns and Age

By: Michael A. Gebers

To examine the rates of different violation types as a function of age, and the pattern of violation types within each age group.

IV
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
127 1990/ 10

Traffic Conviction- and Accident-Record Facts

By: Michael A. Gebers

To provide highway safety administrators, insurance industry representatives, and researchers in the field of traffic safety with information for developing program and policy decisions

IV
NRN049 1976/ 01

Toward a Dynamic System of Driver Improvement Program Evaluation

By: Raymond C. Peck

To advance knowledge in the area of program evaluation as it specifically applies to driver improvement.

IV
38 1971/ 09

The Young Driver Follow-up Study: An Evaluation of the Role of Human Factors in the First Four Years of Driving

By: David M. Harrington

To collect biographical and driving-record data in order to provide evidence for evaluating three approaches to reducing the high accident rate among teenagers: (1) raising the licensing age to 18; (2) identifying the "accident prone" driver; and (3) improving driving via formal driving education and training.

VI
133 1991/ 11

The Traffic Safety Impact of TVS Citation Dismissals

By: Raymond C. Peck & Michael A. Gebers

To 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
91 1984/ 03

The Traffic Safety Impact of Driver Improvement Countermeasures Targeting 55-MPH Speed Limit Compliance

By: Daniel J. Kadell

The 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