DRI has a proprietary vehicle dynamics area (VDA) test facility, located near Bakersfield California. This area is suitable for vehicle handling, braking and ride tests, passby noise measurements, and studies of driver behavior. In particular, it can accommodate NHTSA style “Fishhook” maneuvers. A 1300 foot long, 30 foot wide run up lane leads onto the main maneuvering area, which is 300 feet wide and 800 feet long including the throat. Shop and office space is provided adjacent to the VDA.

Beginning with the 2006 model year DRI will be conducting the NHTSA rollover resistance tests at the VDA in support of the New Car Assessment Program.

The VDA was constructed in early 2005, with Wilcox Associates, specialists in proving ground development, acting as the prime contractor

DRI can also support on and off road test in locations throughout Southern California.

Instrumentation and vehicle preparation are normally accomplished at DRI's shops in Torrance. The vehicles are then driven or transported to the test area, and support vehicles are available for that purpose.

Vehicle instrumentation and test preparation is an area of special expertise at DRI. Available equipment includes a wide variety of sensors, signal conditioning and portable and ruggedized data acquisition systems.

An array of video cameras, recording equipment and high speed photographic equipment is available, as are video and film analyzers for frame-by-frame analysis.

Additional equipment to support vehicle crash tests includes a range of Hybrid and ISO crash dummies, associated sensors and dummy internal or external data recording systems.