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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRN011 | 1987/ 11 |
Evaluation of Tour-Bus Operator Knowledge TestTo evaluate the written knowledge test for tour bus operators and to provide test and item statistics. |
II | |
| NRN012 | 1988/ 01 |
Reentrant Renewal-by-Mail DriversTo evaluate indicators of health and vision problems in drivers returning to the field offices for driver license renewal after having had two consecutive 4-year renewals by mail (reentrant drivers). |
II | |
| NRN013 | 1988/ 06 |
Multiple License Study: Technical Appendix to AB 3262 ReportIn compliance with Assembly Bill 3262 (Katz), to (1) estimate the number of Class 1 and 2 (heavy commercial vehicle) drivers with more than one driver license or with an X-record on file that had not been matched to the driver, (2) perform a point-count and DUI-conviction analysis of Class 1 and 2 drivers with multiple records and estimate how much worse they would look, in terms of accidents and convictions, if their separate records were combined, and (3) analyze license class types as a byproduct of the sampling design. |
II | |
| NRN014 | 1991/ 07 |
Evaluation of the Commercial Driver License Knowledge TestsTo provide Program and Policy Administration (PP A) with item and test statistics useful for developing and improving the commercial driver license (CDL) knowledge tests. |
II | |
| NRN015 | 1992/ 06 |
Evaluation of Third-Party Drive Testing of Passenger Vehicle OperatorsTo compare the driving records of passenger vehicle (PV) operators who passed a third-party (DL 170) drive test with those of PV drivers who passed a drive test administered by Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or California Highway Patrol (CHP). |
II | |
| NRN017 | 1994/ 04 |
Class C Drive Test Baseline Study: Preliminary ReportTo obtain descriptive statistics on 30 DMV field offices in order to select six representative sites for a follow-up evaluation of the reliability of the current Class C drive test. |
II | |
| NRN018 | 1973/ 11 |
Modifying Negligent Driving Behavior: Evaluation of Selected Driver Improvement Techniques, A Second Year Follow-upTo determine long-term effects of previously investigated treatments and provide decision information requested by the Legislative Analyst's Office. |
III | |
| NRN019 | 1977/ 02 |
A Study on the Feasibility of Placing Selected Negligent Operators on Probation by MailTo estimate the potential cost savings if negligent operators had the option of waiving the hearing process and accepting probationary status by mail. |
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 | |
| NRN021 | 1979/ 12 |
A Review of C. D. Robinson’s “The Operation of Drivers License Disqualification as a Sanction”To prepare for the journal of Accident Analysis and Prevention a critical analysis and. review of an Australian monograph on the effectiveness of license suspensions. |
III |