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
137.1 1992/ 12

Negligent-Operator Treatment Evaluation System – Program Effectiveness Report No. 6 (Detailed Findings)

By: William C. Marsh

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
ACR67 1971/ 01

Report to the California State Legislature, in Accord with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 67, 1969 Legislative Session, Wakefield

By: California Department of Motor Vehicles

To comply with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 67, (1960 Legislative Session) by conducting a pilot study of the effects of waiving the knowledge test for renewal applicants.

II
NRN001 1973/ 12

California Driver Training Evaluation Study (Assembly Bill 1486, Veysey)

By: Margaret Hubbard Jones, UCLA

The California Driver Training Evaluation Study was established by Assembly Bill (AB) 1486 (1969 General Session, Veysey) for the purpose of comparing benefits and costs of behind-the-wheel driver training, as given in California high schools by certified high school teachers, with that given by licensed commercial driving school instructors. Additionally, the bill specified a comparison of the standard six-hour training, or its legal simulator-assisted substitute (short training program) with an enriched program providing four extra hours behind-the-wheel (long training program).

I
NRN002 1974/ 01

Defensive Driving as a Prerequisite for Licensing (Assembly Concurrent Resolution 94, Deddeh)

By: California DMV

To comply with a legislative resolution requesting DMV to conduct a study relating to the desirability of making completion of a course in defensive driving a requirement for persons seeking to obtain a California driver's license.

I
NRN003 1978/ 07

IIHS Study on Driver Education: Fact or Fiction?

By: Raymond C. Peck

To point out some critical limitations of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's study on driver training.

I
NRN004 1996/ 01

Effectiveness of Novice Driver Education

By: Raymond C. Peck

To review and critique the results of the NHTSA-funded driver training experimental evaluation known as the "Dekalb" study.

I
NRN005 1974/ 01

Audio-Visual Traffic Safety Materials (House Resolution 81, McAllister)

By: California Department of Motor Vehicles

To conduct a feasibility study concerning use of audio-visual testing.

II
NRN006 1976/ 06

Oral Testing of Driver’s License Applicants

By: Margaret Hubbard Jones, Traffic Safety Center, Institute of Safety and Systems Management, University of Southern California

To gather information about several potential test modes which could be used with illiterate applicants and which would serve an instructional purpose without putting a premium on verbal ability.

II
NRN007 1983/ 06

Pilot Test of the Written Words and Phrases Test

By: Robert Hagge & Karen Frincke

To evaluate the written Words and Phrases Test (DL-140) and provide test and item statistics.

II
NRN008 1983/ 07

Evaluation of Ambulance Driver Knowledge Test

By: Robert Hagge

To evaluate the Ambulance Driver Examination (DL-5J) and to provide test and item statistics.

II