by
John Fabel | Last Updated: September 18, 2022 With over 135,000 residents potentially on the road at any given time, driving in Waco can be challenging. In the home of Baylor University, driving can sometimes get as spicy as the salsa at Torchy’s Tacos.
Waco can be a dangerous place to drive, both physically and fiscally. Waco averages around 3,500 collisions per year, 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 US, 100,000 speeding tickets are written every day, and, no doubt, Waco 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. Waco 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 Waco? 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).
Waco’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. Now I’m not gonna lie; classroom defensive driving in Waco is hard to find anymore. Here’s one school we found where you can still take defensive driving in the presence of other humans.
Austin Driving School
Based in Austin, 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 its offerings, Austin Driving School is committed to saving lives, reducing stress, and promoting responsible driving habits.
611 W St Hwy 6 Waco, Texas, 76710 or call 254-772-4897
In the bygone B.C. (before Covid) days, schools like Comedy Guys and Funny Bone 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 Waco
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 Waco process for asking “pretty please” starts with making your request in person or by mail. Once you have the go-ahead from the court, complete the remaining steps on the City of Waco site, and, voilá, your ticket disappears.
Important Note: If you are planning on getting permission to take defensive driving, make sure you submit your request in a hurry. The City of Waco only allows submissions within 10 calendar days from the date of your citation.
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 Waco
Waco is a fairly easy town to navigate by car, and this fact allows drivers to only spend an average of 17.7 minutes on a one-way commute to work. This is much shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
How people in Waco get to work:
- 80.6% drive their own car alone
- 11.8% carpool with others
- 3.1% work from home
- 0.5% take mass transit
More Cool Stuff About Waco
When most people think of Waco, the first thing that springs to mind is Baylor University, but there is so much more to see and do here. You can:
- Visit Magnolia Market—Are you a fan of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper?” If so, a stop and shop should certainly be on your agenda
- Taste the Spirit(s) of Texas—For craft beer, you can visit Bare Arms Brewing, Brotherwell Brewing, or the Southern Roots Brewing Company. If the “fruit of the vine” is more your speed, take a tasting tour of Valley Mills Vineyards or Waco Winery & Vineyards. If you’re a fan of bourbons, rums, and whiskeys, drop by the multiple award-winning Balcones Distilling
- If You Prefer Your Beverages on the Softer Side—Spend a little time at the Dr. Pepper Museum and learn how Dr. Charles Alderton invented one of America’s most iconic sodas over 100 years ago
- Experience Some Seriously Ancient History—Wonder at the Waco Mammoth National Monument, where you can see the remains of six Columbian mammoths
- If You Prefer Your Animals Alive—Get an up-close look at monkeys, giraffes, bald eagles, and other exotic and native creatures at Waco’s Cameron Park Zoo.
No Matter Your Plans
Whatever you decide to see or do in Waco, 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.
