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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 244 | 2013/ 10 |
THE PROBLEM OF SUSPENDED AND REVOKED DRIVERS WHO AVOID DETECTION AT DUI/LICENSE CHECKPOINTSAlthough driver license suspension and revocation have been shown to improve traffic safety, suspended or revoked (SR) drivers who continue to drive—which appears to be the majority— are about three times more likely to be involved in crashes and to cause a fatal crash. The purpose of this study was to estimate the extent to which these drivers avoid detection at driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) and license checkpoints because they illegally possess a physical license. Method. Law enforcement used electronic identification card readers at DUI/License checkpoints in Sacramento, California to record data for 13,705 drivers for purposes of estimating the extent to which SR drivers avoid detection. Differences in detection as a function of the reason for suspension or revocation were also investigated. Results. Although only 3% of the drivers contacted at the checkpoints were SR, about 41% of SR drivers were able to pass through undetected because they presented valid-looking licenses that should not have been in their possession. Drivers SR for DUI-related reasons were more likely to be detected, whereas those SR for failure to provide proof of financial responsibility were less likely to be detected. Discussion. The fact that many SR drivers were able to pass through DUI/License checkpoints undetected indicates a loophole in the traffic safety countermeasure system that needs to be addressed, because it undermines the efficacy of suspension/revocation and checkpoint countermeasures. Recommendations for improving licensing agency suspension orders and checkpoint screening methods are provided. |
V | |
| 49 | 1974/ 07 |
The Psychometric Prediction of Negligent Driver RecidivismTo determine whether the subsequent driving record of problem drivers could be predicted following a group driver improvement meeting, and to assess the contribution of psychometric and personality test variables in improving prediction. |
IV | |
| NRN086 | 1996/ 01 |
The Relationship Between Age-Related Functional Disability and Road SafetyTo define the relationship between aging and safe driving for use by General Motors and NHTSA in establishing research funding priorities. |
VI | |
| 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 | |
| NRN043 | 1969/ 01 |
The Relationship Between Field Dependence and Motor Vehicle Accident InvolvementTo determine if any relationship exists between motor vehicle accidents and a perceptual response style referred to as field dependence (measured on response to figure / ground stimuli). |
IV | |
| NRN044 | 1970/ 01 |
The Relationship of Perceptual Style of Drivers to Accident/Violation ExperienceTo explore the ability of the Stimulus Accretion Impending Hazard (SAIH) test to measure drivers' propensity for accident or violation involvement. |
IV | |
| NRN009 | 1985/ 06 |
The Role of Youth in Traffic Accidents: A Review of Past and Current California DataTo clarify the role of youth in traffic accident causation. |
II | |
| NRN022 | 1981/ 01 |
The Sanctioning Process and the DUI OffenderTo increase knowledge and awareness of the state-of-the-art of drunk driver sanction effectiveness. |
III | |
| 167 | 1997/ 01 |
THE SPECIFIC DETERRENT IMPACT OF CALIFORNIA’S 0.08% BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION LIMIT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PER SE LICENSE SUSPENSION LAWSThis project evaluated the impact of two new California driving-under-the-influence (DUI) laws on the subsequent alcohol-related accident and recidivism rates of apprehended DUI offenders. The first law, effective January 1, 1990, reduced the state’s illegal per se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit to 0.08% and the second, effective just six months later, on July 1, 1990, imposed an administrative per se (APS) pre-conviction license suspension on arrested DUI offenders. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the specific deterrent impact of the new laws by comparing the subsequent recidivism and alcohol-related accident rates of DUI offenders arrested before and after implementation of the new laws. |
V | |
| 21 | 1965/ 02 |
The Teen-Aged Driver – Report 21To examine the accident and conviction records of teenaged drivers to determine whether or not a change in the licensing age was warranted and whether or not behind-the-wheel driver training was effective in reducing accidents and convictions. |
IV |