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
NRN096 1986/ 07

Conceptual Plan for an Integrated Management Information System

By: Gary Arstein-Kerslake & Raymond Peck

(1) To demonstrate the utility of, and need for, an integrated management information system, (2) to implement a rudimentary system as a demonstration of the feasibility of developing a full-fledged management information system, and (3) to chart a course for the future development of a management information system.

VII
NRN095 1986/ 04

Quality Control Methodology Applied to Field Office Efficiency

By: Mary Janke & Gary Arstein-Kerslake

To describe quality control (QC) methodology and apply it to interoffice efficiency comparisons.

VII
NRN094 1986/ 04

Operational Efficiency of Field Offices with Extended Office Hours

By: Jensen Kuan & Ray Peck

To evaluate the impact of extended office hours on DMV field office productivity and quality of work.

VII
NRN093 1986/ 03

Survey of Customer’s Time in DMV Field Offices

By: Dan Kadell

To monitor customers' time as a part of improving services in DMV field offices.

VII
NRN092 1986/ 03

Effective- Time Charts

By: Jensen Kuan

To graphically present trends in effective-time management in each DMV field office, each field office grade level, and statewide, in order to assess effectiveness of departmental operations in serving the motoring public.

VII
NRN091 1984/ 07

A Study of Alternative Strategies for Assessing Fees on Commercially Registered Vehicles

By: California Department of Motor Vehicles

This study was initiated by the Division of Registration and Investigative Services. The scope of the study was subsequently broadened to meet the requirements of Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 11 of the 1983 legislative session. The final report for this study was submitted in July 1984. The objectives of this study were to: 1. develop a schedule for assessing weight fees on commercially registered power vehicles (6,500 or more pounds unladen) and trailers, based on declared laden or gross weight (GVW) of individual power vehicles and trailers (this schedule would replace the current unladen weight fee table; registration and vehicle license fees would continue to be collected); 2. develop a fee-assessment system for commercially registered power vehicles (6,500 or more pounds unladen) and trailers, based on the declared combined gross weight (CGW) of power vehicles (CGW would be declared for only power units and would include the total weight of the power unit, all trailing vehicles, if any, and all loads) and charging only a standard fee on each trailer (the CGW fee assessed on power vehicles and the trailer fee would replace the registration, vehicle license, and unladen weight fees currently collected on power vehicles and trailers); and 3. estimate the total 1985 revenue loss under a CGW fee schedule that would allow fees remaining on deleted interstate power vehicles to be credited toward fees due on their power vehicle replacements, and produce an adjusted CGW fee schedule that would recoup this revenue loss.

VII
NRN090 1978/ 08

Error Rate Study, Division of Drivers’ Licenses

By: Maureen Miller

To identify errors in information contained in the drivers' license file; to describe their nature, number and sources.

VII
NRN088 1997/ 01

Estimating the Exposure and Fatal Crash Rates of Suspended/Revoked and Unlicensed Drivers in California

By: David J. DeYoung, Raymond C. Peck and Clifford J. Helander

To derive estimates of the exposure (amount of driving) and crash rates of suspended/revoked and unlicensed drivers, using fatal crash data obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's fatal accident reporting system (FARS) database, and utilizing induced exposure methodology

VI
NRN087 1996/ 04

Older Drivers with Medical Impairments: Identification and Evaluation

By: Mary K. Janke

To give an overview of DMV's reexamination process for drivers with medical conditions, as well as other aspects of DMV's P&M (physical or mental impairment) program. To describe a federally funded pilot study to develop a battery of tests for identifying and evaluating the impaired older driver.

VI
NRN086 1996/ 01

The Relationship Between Age-Related Functional Disability and Road Safety

By: Raymond C. Peck

To define the relationship between aging and safe driving for use by General Motors and NHTSA in establishing research funding priorities.

VI