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.

393 Results

Report ID	Date Published	Title	Section	Links
227	2008/ 10	Vehicle Ownership Among Drivers Convicted of Driving While Suspended/Revoked in California By: Erin J. Griffin Suspended and revoked (S/R) drivers who continue to drive are at increased risk of being involved in crashes, driving under the influence, and other driving violations.	III	PDF
2	1960/ 10	Vision Research Project Progress Report By: Research & Development To present an interim report on the finding of our Visual Research Program for which a preliminary report was presented in January 1959.	VI	PDF
152	1995/ 06	Vision Testing of Renewal Applicants: Crashes Predicted when Compensation for Impairment is Inadequate By: David F. Hennessy This study addresses the enhanced vision test system component of a departmental plan to increase the competency level of the California driving population. Five experimental vision tests were administered to 3,669 randomly selected Class C renewal applicants in three field offices. The objective was to identify the vision tests showing the most promise for further validation in a large-scale statewide study. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that the relationship between vision test scores and crash involvement varies depending on applicant's age, general visual ability, and reported level of self-restriction. It was recommended that (1) management consider referring all DMV Snellen test fails to a vision specialist through the DL 62 process, (2) cross-validate the most promising tests (Pelli-Robson low-contrast acuity and perceptual reaction time assessment) in a large-scale demonstration project, and (3) continue research on developing improved assessment tests and protocols for drivers with age-related impairments.	II	PDF

Report ID

Date Published

Title

Section

227

2008/ 10

Vehicle Ownership Among Drivers Convicted of Driving While Suspended/Revoked in California

By: Erin J. Griffin

Suspended and revoked (S/R) drivers who continue to drive are at increased risk of being involved in crashes, driving under the influence, and other driving violations.

III

PDF

1960/ 10

Vision Research Project Progress Report

By: Research & Development

To present an interim report on the finding of our Visual Research Program for which a preliminary report was presented in January 1959.

PDF

152

1995/ 06

Vision Testing of Renewal Applicants: Crashes Predicted when Compensation for Impairment is Inadequate

By: David F. Hennessy

This study addresses the enhanced vision test system component of a departmental plan to increase the competency level of the California driving population. Five experimental vision tests were administered to 3,669 randomly selected Class C renewal applicants in three field offices. The objective was to identify the vision tests showing the most promise for further validation in a large-scale statewide study. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that the relationship between vision test scores and crash involvement varies depending on applicant's age, general visual ability, and reported level of self-restriction. It was recommended that (1) management consider referring all DMV Snellen test fails to a vision specialist through the DL 62 process, (2) cross-validate the most promising tests (Pelli-Robson low-contrast acuity and perceptual reaction time assessment) in a large-scale demonstration project, and (3) continue research on developing improved assessment tests and protocols for drivers with age-related impairments.

PDF