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:

Departamento de Vehículos Motorizados
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
NRN009 1985/ 06

The Role of Youth in Traffic Accidents: A Review of Past and Current California Data

By: Raymond C. Peck

To clarify the role of youth in traffic accident causation.

II
NRN010 1986/ 12

Evaluation of Driver License Knowledge Tests

By: Michael A. Gebers & Robert A. Hagge

To pilot-test four of the Department's written knowledge examinations for driver licensure and provide test and item statistics.

II
NRN011 1987/ 11

Evaluation of Tour-Bus Operator Knowledge Test

By: Michael Kellerman & Robert A. Hagge

To evaluate the written knowledge test for tour bus operators and to provide test and item statistics.

II
NRN012 1988/ 01

Reentrant Renewal-by-Mail Drivers

By: Mary K. Janke

To evaluate indicators of health and vision problems in drivers returning to the field offices for driver license renewal after having had two consecutive 4-year renewals by mail (reentrant drivers).

II
NRN013 1988/ 06

Multiple License Study: Technical Appendix to AB 3262 Report

By: Karen J. Chan & Marvin Hanely

In compliance with Assembly Bill 3262 (Katz), to (1) estimate the number of Class 1 and 2 (heavy commercial vehicle) drivers with more than one driver license or with an X-record on file that had not been matched to the driver, (2) perform a point-count and DUI-conviction analysis of Class 1 and 2 drivers with multiple records and estimate how much worse they would look, in terms of accidents and convictions, if their separate records were combined, and (3) analyze license class types as a byproduct of the sampling design.

II
NRN014 1991/ 07

Evaluation of the Commercial Driver License Knowledge Tests

By: Patricia A. Romanowicz

To provide Program and Policy Administration (PP A) with item and test statistics useful for developing and improving the commercial driver license (CDL) knowledge tests.

II
NRN015 1992/ 06

Evaluation of Third-Party Drive Testing of Passenger Vehicle Operators

By: Robert Hagge

To compare the driving records of passenger vehicle (PV) operators who passed a third-party (DL 170) drive test with those of PV drivers who passed a drive test administered by Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or California Highway Patrol (CHP).

II
NRN017 1994/ 04

Class C Drive Test Baseline Study: Preliminary Report

By: Rickey 1. Williams & Nancy C. Shumaker

To obtain descriptive statistics on 30 DMV field offices in order to select six representative sites for a follow-up evaluation of the reliability of the current Class C drive test.

II
NRN018 1973/ 11

Modifying Negligent Driving Behavior: Evaluation of Selected Driver Improvement Techniques, A Second Year Follow-up

By: William C. Marsh

To 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 Mail

By: Beverly R. Sherman & William V. Epperson

To estimate the potential cost savings if negligent operators had the option of waiving the hearing process and accepting probationary status by mail.

III