by
John Fabel | Last Updated: September 19, 2022 With over 180,000 residents potentially on the road at any given time, driving in McKinney can be challenging. In fact, sometimes the driving can get as spicy as the salsa at Cristina’s.
McKinney can be a dangerous place to drive, both physically and fiscally. McKinney averages 1,400 collisions annually, with nearly a third 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 U.S., 100,000 speeding tickets are written every day, and, no doubt, McKinney 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. McKinney 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 McKinney? 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).
McKinney’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 McKinney is hard to find anymore. However, here are a couple of schools where you can still take defensive driving in the presence of other humans.
Major League Driving School
First opened in 1997, Major League Driving School is family owned and operated, offering a TDLR-approved defensive driving course. With locations in Mesquite and Terrell, it’s convenient to make it to your driving class. Their knowledgeable staff is state-certified, experienced, and supportive as you learn how to become a safer, better driver.
1200 E Davis St Ste 103, Mesquite, TX 75149 or call (972) 289-5400, or you can find them on Facebook
Cy-Fair Driving School
Cy-fair Driving School offers 6-hour, TDLR-approved defensive driving courses multiple times each week. These courses are good for ticket dismissal and/or insurance discount. Reservations required.
Visit CyFairDrivingSchool.com for location information, and call (832) 647-3526 (main) or (832) 326-5628 (cell) to claim a spot.
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 McKinney
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 McKinney process for asking “pretty please” can happen:
- In-person
- By mail or email
- By the dropbox located outside the Municipal Court
No matter how you choose to ask, be sure to ask within 20 days of your offense.
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 McKinney
McKinney is a fairly easy town to navigate by car. Although the drive time to work averages 29.3 minutes (slightly longer than the U.S. average of 26.4 minutes), many residents find it worth it to work in Dallas and then return home to McKinney’s relative peace and quiet.
How people in McKinney get to work:
- 82.0% drive their own car alone
- 6.4% carpool with others
- 9.0% work from home
- 0.4% take mass transit
More Cool Stuff About McKinney
McKinney’s location gives it easy access to many of the Metroplex’s biggest attractions, but there is much for tourists and locals to do in and around town.
- Get a glimpse of the town’s roots with a visit to Historic Downtown McKinney or Chestnut Square Historic Village
- Head outdoors for adventure and learning at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary or Erwin Park Hike & Bike Trail
- Search for your treasure in someone else’s junk at Third Monday Trade Days or Pickers Paradise
- Get your drink on by taking a trip to Wales Manor Vineyard or Landon Winery or Mitas Hill Vineyard or Tupps Brewery
No Matter Your Plans
Be careful driving to get there, whatever you decide to see or do in McKinney. 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.
