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
Note Please include the report number, the number of copies requested, and your name, address, and phone number.
| Report ID | Date Published | Title | Section | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRN021 | 1979/ 12 |
A Review of C. D. Robinson’s “The Operation of Drivers License Disqualification as a Sanction”To prepare for the journal of Accident Analysis and Prevention a critical analysis and. review of an Australian monograph on the effectiveness of license suspensions. |
III | |
| NRN035 | 1993/ 07 |
Using Traffic Violator School Citation Dismissals in Addition to Convictions as the Basis for Applying Postlicense Control ActionsTo determine whether TVS dismissals should be used, along with negligent operator (neg-op) points, in selecting drivers for level 3 license control action (suspension and probation). Implicit in this objective is the fact that any change in policy (or law) that would include TVS dismissals in triggering license control actions would be expected to produce a corresponding increase in the number of neg-op interventions. It is argued that any group of drivers whose accident expectancy (average accident rate) exceeds that of prima facie negligent (level 3) drivers is a legitimate target group for such actions. |
III | |
| NRN018 | 1973/ 11 |
Modifying Negligent Driving Behavior: Evaluation of Selected Driver Improvement Techniques, A Second Year Follow-upTo determine long-term effects of previously investigated treatments and provide decision information requested by the Legislative Analyst's Office. |
III | |
| NRN019 | 1977/ 02 |
A Study on the Feasibility of Placing Selected Negligent Operators on Probation by MailTo estimate the potential cost savings if negligent operators had the option of waiving the hearing process and accepting probationary status by mail. |
III | |
| NRN032 | 1986/ 12 |
Pilot Test of Four Written Driver License Knowledge TestsTo provide technical assistance to the Division of Headquarters Operations in pilot testing four of the Department's written driver license examinations and to provide test and item statistics. |
III | |
| NRN038 | 1995/ 02 |
Driver License Strategies for Controlling the Persistent DUI OffenderTo develop improved methods of identifying and controlling "hard core" Dill offenders through driver licensing. |
III | |
| 258 | 2021/ 08 |
AB 2499: A Traffic Safety Evaluation of California’s Traffic Violator School Masked Conviction ProgramThe negative traffic safety impact of California’s prior traffic violator school (TVS) citation dismissal policy is well documented in past departmental TVS evaluations. Using advanced inferential statistical techniques, the current study evaluated the substantive changes to California’s Traffic Violator School program as required by California Assembly Bill 2499 (Chapter 599, Statutes of 2010). The program changes implemented by AB 2499 appear to be associated with a specific deterrent effect as evidenced by a reliable and statistically significant reduction in subsequent traffic crashes and convictions of those receiving a masked TVS conviction as opposed to a countable conviction. Although the results suggest that this relationship exists primarily among TVS drivers with less elevated prior records, the change in status from a TVS citation dismissal to a TVS masked conviction has reduced the negative traffic safety impact of the TVS citation dismissal policy in effect prior to the implementation of AB 2499. Several recommendations are offered to enhance the positive traffic safety impact of the TVS program by further combining its educational elements with the Department’s post-license control program by way of the Negligent Operator Treatment System. |
III | |
| 137.1 | 1992/ 12 |
Negligent-Operator Treatment Evaluation System – Program Effectiveness Report No. 6 (Detailed Findings)To implement and maintain an automated on-line evaluation system for monitoring the effectiveness of the negligent-operator (neg-op) program and to issue periodic reports which present program cost and impact data for this program. |
III | |
| 147 | 1995/ 02 |
Knowledge and Attitude Change and the Relationship to Driving Performance Among Drivers Attending California Traffic Violator School.One of the primary goals of the traffic violator school (TVS) program is to improve knowledge and attitudes toward traffic safety issues among drivers cited for traffic violations. While the TVS curriculum is standard for all courses, the courses may differ in content emphasis and other factors. Among the specific characteristics on which TVS programs differ are comedy versus non-comedy presentation modes, public versus private ownership, and use of advertising inducements. The present study examined how these d ifferences may influence t he amount of learning and attitude change resulting from TVS attendance. The results indicate that the amount of improvement in knowledge and positive attitude was not significantly related to method of instruction, type of provider, or use of an inducement to attract enrollees. No significant relationship was found between knowledge gain and s ubsequent accident involvement, or between attitude change and subsequent driver record entries. It was also found that although level of knowledge gain was associated with fewer subsequent traffic citations, the magnitude of the relationship was small. It was recommended that, to the extent that one of the goals of TVS is to increase knowledge of safe driving practices, there may be some value in requiring an exit test as a condition for receiving a TVS-completion certificate. However, there is no evidence at this time to conclude that such an increase in knowledge would result in a reduction in subsequent accident involvements. |
III | |
| 189 | 2001/ 01 |
Feasibility of a Statewide Vehicle Impoundment DatabaseA 1997 DMV study evaluating the effectiveness of vehicle impoundment in California found that it was associated with significant declines in subsequent crashes, moving violation convictions and driving-while-suspended/driving-while-unlicensed convictions. However, apart from the information provided by this study, little else is known about vehicle impoundment in California, because there is no centralized statewide database of impoundment actions. A statewide database could provide information that could be used to monitor the integrity of vehicle impoundment in California, and also to assist Legislators in making informed policy decisions on impoundment. The purpose of the present study was to explore whether it is feasible to develop a statewide vehicle impoundment database, preferably using existing reporting sytems and databases so that the creation of the database would not add significant new tasks and responsibilities on law enforcement. An interagency task force was convened to explore the feasibility of creating a statewide impoundment database and, if feasible, to develop a model of the database. The task force determined that it is feasible to develop the database, and recommended that it be based upon an existing system in which law enforcement agencies report vehicle impoundment actions to the Department of Justice's Stolen Vehicle System database. A Memorandum of Understanding will be written by DMV staff and sent to the Office of Traffic Safety requesting funding to develop the database. |
III |