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

Note Please include the report number, the number of copies requested, and your name, address, and phone number.

395 Results

Report ID Date Published Title Section Links
33.1 1970/ 07

An Abstract of Prediction of Driving Behavior Following a Group Driver Improvement Session

By: Robin S. McBride

To determine the extent to which driving record subsequent to a driver improvement meeting could be predicted from a personality test and biographical questionnaire.

IV
34.1 1970/ 06

An Abstract of Traffic Violations by Type, Age, Sex, and Marital Status

By: David M. Harrington & Robin S. McBride

To examine how the distribution of violation types varies with such basic demographic variables as age, sex, and marital status.

IV
36.1 1971/ 03

An Abstract of Modifying Negligent Driving Behavior: Evaluation of Selected Driver Improvement Techniques

By: William C. Marsh

To compare and evaluate eight different methods of dealing with negligent drivers.

III
36.2 1971/ 03

Estimating Program Costs and Benefits, A Supplement to Modifying Negligent Driving Behavior: Evaluation of Selected Driver Improvement Techniques

By: William C. Marsh

To estimate the program costs and program benefits of eight different methods of dealing with negligent drivers.

III
37.1 1971/ 06

An Abstract of The Effectiveness of a Uniform Traffic School Curriculum for Negligent Drivers

By: Richard M. Harano & Raymond C. Peck

Evaluate the effectiveness of a uniform traffic school curriculum developed for the traffic violation repeater.

III
38.1 1971/ 09

An Abstract of The Young Driver Follow-up Study: An Evaluation of the Role of Human Factors in the First Four Years of Driving

By: David M. Harrington

To collect biographical and driving-record data in order to provide evidence for evaluating three approaches to reducing the high accident rate among teenagers: (1) raising the licensing age to 18; (2) identifying the "accident prone" driver; and (3) improving driving via formal driving education and training.

VI
39.1 1973/ 03

An Abstract of The Prediction of Accident Liability through Biographical Data and Psychometric Tests

By: Richard M. Harano, Robin S. McBride, & Raymond C. Peck

To evaluate the role of human factors in traffic accidents.

IV
45.1 1974/ 01

An Abstract of An Evaluation of Some Additional Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Warning Letters

By: William V. Epperson & Richard M. Harano

To determine the effectiveness of two types of warning letters and an informational pamphlet in reducing the subsequent collision and conviction records of pre-negligent drivers. An additional study objective was to determine the effectiveness of a fo llow-up reinforcement letter se nt to collision- and conviction-free drivers. These hypotheses were suggested by an earlier warning letter study (McBride & Peck, Report #30). This study was designed to attempt replication of the previous results.

III
46.1 1974/ 01

An abstract of An Evaluation of California’s “Good Driver” Incentive Program

By: Richard M. Harano & David M. Hubert

To study the effects of rewards and/ or incentives in the form of one-year license extensions (no testing or visit to field office required) for drivers with one-year-clean prior records.

II
48.1 1976/ 10

Projected Motor Vehicle Registration & Drivers Licenses Outstanding 1976-2000

By: Department Staff

To prepare a set of estimated vehicle registrations to 2000, by county, for each of the four classes of vehicles --passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers.

VII