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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM5 | 1981/ 11 |
Use Tax SurveyTo 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 | |
| NRN103 | 1991/ 01 |
Driving Simulator ReviewTo review and evaluate the technology, costs, and _unresolved issues of contention related to driving simulators; to reach conclusions, based on research studies, about the validity of using driving simulators. |
VII | |
| 248 | 2014/ 10 |
Cellular Phone Distracted Driving: A Review of the Literature and Summary of Crash and Driver Characteristics in CaliforniaThe present study reviews the literature on cell phone-distracted driving including the effectiveness of legislative efforts to reduce the behavior. It also reports results of descriptive analyses characterizing crashes and drivers involved in police-reported, cell phone-distracted crashes in California. Cell phone use in the U.S. is widespread and increasing. People tend to support legislative efforts to limit the use of cell phones while driving despite the fact that many continue to engage in the behavior. Empirical and observational research consistently shows a negative impact of cell phone use on driving performance and crash risk. The present study extracted data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System database pertaining to crashes that occurred between 2003 and 2011 in California. These data were examined at two levels: crash and driver. Crash analyses revealed that most crashes did not involve inattention. When they did, non-cell phone inattention was more common than cell phone inattention and hand-held cell phone use was more commonly associated with crashes than hands-free. The most common primary crash factor for cell phone-related fatal/injury crashes was traveling at an unsafe speed. A larger percentage of cell phone-related fatal/injury crashes occurred during the workweek than on the weekend, and more occurred in the afternoon than in the morning or night. Driver analyses revealed that 21 to 30 year-old drivers accounted for the largest percentage of drivers involved in cell phone-related fatal/injury crashes. Males accounted for more cell phone-related fatal/injury crashes than females. Finally, drivers reported as using a cell phone at the time of fatal/injury crashes were more likely to be found at fault, and were slightly more likely to be found at fault than those using hands-free devices. |
VII | |
| 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 | |
| 14.2 | 1963/ 07 |
A Cost Study of “Substitute License Plates” Vs “Duplicate License Plates”To determine the relative advantages of the Department of Motor Vehicles' present system of issuing substitute plates when a license plate is lost, stolen, or mutilated with a proposed system of issuing duplicate plates. In addition, a procedure for issuing duplicate plates is suggested and a cost comparison is made between the proposed system and the present system. |
VII | |
| 27 | 1968/ 04 |
Projected Motor Vehicle and Trailer Registration by County, 1967-1980To prepare a set of estimated vehicle registrations to 1980, by county, for each of the four classes of vehicles --passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers. |
VII | |
| 29.1 | 1981/ 04 |
The California Driver Fact BookTo provide a quick reference for traffic safety personnel and related program administrators. |
VII | |
| 4 | 1960/ 02 |
A Study of Information Requests ServicesTo determine areas of organization policy and procedure, relating to the registration of vehicles and such information as is contained on an application for a drivers license, where improvements are applicable and recommend corrective action. |
VII | |
| 48.3 | 1980/ 10 |
Projected Motor Vehicle Registration & Drivers Licenses Outstanding 1980-2005To prepare a set of estimated vehicle registrations to 2005, by county, for each of the four classes of vehicles --passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers. |
VII | |
| 48 | 1974/ 10 |
Projected Motor Vehicle Registration & Drivers Licenses Outstanding 1970-1990The ownership of motor vehicles in California has long been used by economists, bankers, planners, and administrators at all levels of government and the private sector as an important measure of the State's economy. Members of these professions have continued to seek long-range estimates of vehicle registration data in order to forecast future growth and development of the State and to plan necessary facilities for this expected growth. This is the third set of estimates released by the department. In addition, for the second time, are included estimates on number of drivers license holders by county (to 1976) and statewide (to 1990). It is anticipated that these registration estimates will need revision at least every two years and perhaps more frequently should drastic changes occur in the base estimators. A multiple linear regression model was employed as the statistical tool to the development of the estimates. Separate equations were developed for each vehicle type (passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, trailers and motorcycles) for each of the 58 counties of California. The predictor variables used were total population and year. The county population estimates were provided by the department of Finance and reflect the statewide totals. |
VII |