by
John Fabel | Last Updated: September 22, 2022 With nearly 400,000 residents potentially on the road at any given time, driving in Arlington can be challenging. In Texas’s seventh-largest city, driving can sometimes get as spicy as the salsa at Abuelo’s.
Arlington can be a dangerous place to drive, both physically and fiscally. Arlington averages 6,900 collisions per year, with roughly a third of them resulting in injuries or fatalities.
Since most accidents are caused by a failure to control speed, law enforcement does its best to slow this trend by writing tickets. In the US, 100,000 speeding tickets are written every day, and, no doubt, Arlington drivers get their fair share. At an average cost of $150 a ticket, the nation’s speeders pay out nearly $5.5 billion dollars in fines, and each of them faces a 22-25% increase in their car insurance premiums for the next three years.
All of these costs could be drastically reduced with better driving by all. Arlington drivers can bring these numbers down by taking defensive driving (also known in Texas as a “driver safety course”). Tips and reminders of how to navigate the roads safely are the main topics of any driving course. The stated purpose of a TDLR-approved course is to teach drivers to “change their perceptions, attitudes, and skills to make Texas roads and highways a safer place to drive.” Other benefits of taking a defensive driving course include ticket dismissal and insurance savings, all at a reasonable cost.
The Easiest Way to Take Defensive Driving in Arlington? Do it Online
With the hectic pace of life, the easiest way to complete a course is to take it online. The ability to work at your own pace from your own place makes it the most convenient way, too. Any of the schools listed below offer courses approved for ticket dismissal and/or insurance discount. And you can choose any of them with confidence as they are fully certified by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
Arlington’s Best TDLR-Approved Online Defensive Driving Providers
School | Name | TDLR Ref # | Phone | Sign Up |
 | CP-814 | |||
 #1 in TX! | CP-280 | |||
 | CP-262 | |||
 | CP-024 | |||
  | CP-090 |
Online Not for You?
We understand that learning online is not everybody’s preference. If you prefer to “get your learnin’ live,” you can still get out and take defensive driving in a classroom.
Depending on the school, classroom defensive driving has always been fun; being in the presence of humans again might even make it more so. Now I’m not gonna lie; classroom defensive driving in Arlington is hard to find anymore. Here are some schools where you can still make that happen.
Austin Driving School
Based in Austin with locations in Tarrant County, Austin Driving School is state-certified, bonded, and insured, offering defensive driving and many other driving courses. They also offer teen drivers ed, adult drivers ed, and courses for minor in possession offenders, DWI offenders, and drug offenders. In all of their offerings, Austin Driving School is committed to saving lives, reducing stress, and promoting responsible driving habits.
Visit AustinDrivingSchool.com for locations or call (512) 280-4499
First Class Driver
Whether you are looking to get your license, needing to remove a traffic ticket, or considering making driving a full-time or part-time profession, First Class Driver is the place to start. First Class is a full-service driving center making it easy and fun to get behind the wheel. They have helped thousands of people enjoy the fun and freedom of being a safe, licensed driver.
4255 Bryant Irvin Rd Ste 105, Fort Worth, TX 76109 or call (817) 731-0200
In the bygone B.C. (before Covid) days, schools like Comedy Guys, Funny Bone, and My Improv were famous for their defensive driving classes that were more or less dinner and a show. Hopefully, they’ll be back soon.
If You Have Received a Ticket in Arlington
Defensive driving courses can be used to improve driving skills and earn insurance discounts, but the benefit most people look for is ticket dismissal.
The first step to taking defensive driving is receiving permission to do so. The Arlington process for asking “pretty please” must follow these rules:
- The request to take the course must be made by mail or in person before your appearance date
- You must pay court costs and an administrative fee
- You must present a copy of a current Texas driver’s license
- You must present current proof of insurance
Dismissal for most citations is possible unless the ticket was written:
- For speeding 25 miles per hour (or more) over the posted limit
- Passing a stopped school bus
- In a posted construction zone while workers are present
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Fleeing police
Ticket dismissal is also not a possibility if you are the holder of a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) or if you have dismissed a ticket with defensive driving in the past 12 months.
Driving in Arlington
Nested at the center of the Metroplex, Arlington residents regularly commute to Fort Worth or Dallas for work or pleasure. An excellent highway system easily accomplishes this task, but the locals all seem to refer to these roads by name instead of by number. Let’s break down a few to reduce a little confusion for the first-timers.
If you are headed to Fort Worth on:
- State Highway 121, you’re on Airport Freeway
- State Highway 121 (between I-30 and U.S. 67), you’re on Chisholm Trail Parkway
- Interstate 20 (west of Interstate 635), you’re on Ronald Reagan Freeway
- Interstate 30 (east of Interstate 35W), you’re on East Freeway
- Interstate 30 (west of Interstate 35W), you’re on Tom Landry Freeway
- Interstate 35 W (north of Interstate 30), you’re on North Freeway
- Interstate 35 W (south of Interstate 30), you’re on South Freeway
If you are headed to Dallas on:
- Interstate 35E (south of downtown) and Interstate 30 (east of downtown), you’re on R.L. Thornton
- Interstate 635, you’re on LBJ
- Interstate 35E (north of downtown to Loop 12), you’re on Stemmons Freeway
- Interstate 45 (downtown to I-20), you’re on S.M. Wright Freeway
- Interstate 45 (south of I-20), you’re on Julius Schwepps Freeway
- Texas 161, you’re on the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) Why no traffic reporter has referred to this roadway as “the Pig Butt” yet is still beyond me.
More Cool Stuff to Do in Arlington
Besides its wide variety of peculiarly named freeways, Texas’ seventh-largest city has a lot to offer. What might you discover if you headed there?
- Arts & Culture– Locals and tourists enjoy Arlington’s arts and culture scene, a draw for art lovers and music fanatics alike. There are many venues where fans can get their fill:
- Things To Do With Kids– If you’re looking for things to do with kids, you’re in luck. From tots to teens, there is entertainment for the whole family. Theme parks, kid-friendly restaurants, and interactive museums are just the beginning.
- At Six Flags Over Texas, you can ride any of 19 rollercoasters
- A visit to The University of Texas at Arlington’s Planetarium will take you on a guided trip around the galaxy
- If you’re feeling competitive, head for the K1 Speed race course
- Heated up by all this excitement? Cool off by splashing around at one of the city’s many water parks
- Historic Sites & Haunted Spots–Founded over 100 years ago, Arlington has a rich and colorful past and dozens of historical sites. Some of these include:
- Top O’ Hill Terrace, a popular 1920’s destination for a respectable cup of tea and some spirited (and illegal) gambling.
- The Historic Fielder House, with exhibits relating to the history of Arlington and its surrounding communities
- There are several reportedly haunted spots in Arlington. For a peek at the spooky, travel to The Screaming Bridge or Hell’s Gate at River Legacy Park
- Like the Great Outdoors?–If you love relaxing and communing with nature, Arlington has plenty of outdoor recreation to offer. Head outside and enjoy Arlington’s:
- Many stunning parks and playgrounds
- Miles of hiking and biking trails, many in the 1,300-acre River Legacy Park and the 40 acre Crystal Canyon Natural Area
- Golf lovers will love the multitude of golf courses within city limits. A must-see is the world’s only Major League Baseball-branded golf course, the Texas Rangers Golf Club
- On a Budget?–There’s no need to spend a lot of money to enjoy Arlington; there’s plenty of free things to do.
- Music fans can enjoy free concerts under the stars at Levitt Pavilion
- Art lovers will love the dozens of stunning sculptures sprinkled along the Entertainment District Art Trail
Whatever you decide to see or do in Arlington, be careful driving to get there. Without question, the driving environment here can pose some real traffic challenges. Consider taking a defensive driving course to make sure you get to your “whatever” safely.
