If you live, work, attend school, or drive in Montgomery County and need an Indiana Driver Safety Program, ABetterDriver provides an online course approved by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
The Indiana BMV currently lists ABetterDriver.com as an approved Driver Safety Program provider offering online and DVD courses. All approved DSP providers follow statewide curriculum standards, and every approved course has a minimum duration of four hours.
Montgomery County had an estimated 38,954 residents in 2025. Crawfordsville is the county seat and by far its largest community, with an estimated population of 16,699. The county also contains 10 incorporated towns ranging from Ladoga and Waynetown to communities with only a few hundred residents.
The county's road environment is unusually varied for its population. Crawfordsville sits next to I-74 and is served by U.S. 231, U.S. 136, State Road 32, and State Road 47. Outside the city, Montgomery County maintains approximately 844 miles of county roads, including hundreds of miles of chip-seal and gravel roads.
Montgomery County also has significant industrial freight traffic around the Nucor Road/U.S. 136 area, college-related traffic around Wabash College, and recreational traffic near Shades State Park. These conditions give drivers several distinctly different environments within the same county.
Take Your Indiana Driver Safety Program Online
ABetterDriver offers a BMV-approved Indiana Driver Safety Program that Montgomery County drivers can complete online.
The Indiana BMV permits approved DSP courses to be offered online, by DVD, or in a classroom. All approved providers use the same curriculum standards, every course lasts at least four hours, and the program is designed to improve defensive-driving skills rather than teach beginning driver education.
Whether you live in Crawfordsville, Ladoga, Waynetown, Linden, Darlington, Waveland, New Market, or another Montgomery County community, the online format allows you to complete the statewide Driver Safety Program without attending a classroom.
Drivers searching for Montgomery County Indiana traffic school, Indiana traffic school online, an Indiana defensive driving course, a Montgomery County Driver Safety Program, or a BMV-approved DSP should first determine why they need the course.
A BMV requirement, voluntary four-point credit, Montgomery County traffic deferral, and a court-ordered driving program are separate processes.
Who Takes an Indiana Driver Safety Program?
Indiana drivers complete an approved Driver Safety Program for several reasons.
BMV-Required Driver Safety Program
Indiana law provides that drivers convicted of two or more traffic offenses within a 12-month period may be required to complete a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program.
Drivers under age 21 are required to complete a DSP after two or more traffic-offense convictions. When the BMV sends notice of the requirement, the approved course must be completed within 90 days or driving privileges will be suspended.
These rules apply throughout Indiana. Montgomery County does not have a different BMV course requirement from another Indiana county.
Voluntary Indiana 4-Point Credit
Any Indiana driver may also voluntarily complete a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program.
After successful completion, the BMV applies a four-point credit to the driver's Indiana Official Driver Record. The credit may be applied once every three years. If another approved course is completed during that period, the BMV states that the three-year period associated with the credit is extended from the new completion date.
The four-point credit does not erase a traffic conviction.
Indiana points remain active for two years from the conviction date, and the BMV specifically states that DSP completion does not remove a citation from the driver's history.
Court-Ordered or Court-Referred Drivers
A Montgomery County court may separately require a driver to complete a driving program.
The BMV distinguishes this situation from the statewide DSP. A court may require a Driver Safety Program as an alternative to suspension, but the court order does not necessarily require participation in a BMV-approved DSP.
If a Montgomery County citation, prosecutor, or judge tells you to complete traffic school, driver improvement, defensive driving, or another program, verify the exact requirement before enrolling.
How Long Is the Indiana Driver Safety Program?
Every Indiana BMV-approved Driver Safety Program has a minimum duration of four hours.
The BMV currently lists ABetterDriver.com among its approved providers and identifies it as offering online and DVD courses. The BMV also currently caps the price of an approved DSP at $55.
The four-hour requirement applies whether the driver lives in Crawfordsville, Ladoga, Waynetown, Waveland, or anywhere else in Indiana.
How the Indiana 4-Point Credit Works
Successful completion of a BMV-approved DSP qualifies an Indiana driver for a four-point credit on the Official Driver Record.
The credit is available once every three years.
The distinction is important:
A four-point credit affects points on the driver's record. It does not dismiss a Montgomery County traffic citation or erase the underlying conviction.
The BMV currently states that completion results should generally be processed within 7 to 10 business days and that the four-point credit is applied within 7 to 14 business days after the BMV receives completion notification from the provider.
Driving in Montgomery County: Interstate Traffic Meets Rural Roads
Montgomery County's strongest overall driving characteristic is the rapid transition between regional highway traffic and a large rural road system.
I-74 runs immediately adjacent to Crawfordsville. U.S. 231 intersects I-74 at Crawfordsville, while U.S. 136, State Road 32, and State Road 47 also serve the city. Crawfordsville's official economic-development information describes these routes as part of the city's transportation network for moving both people and freight.
Outside Crawfordsville, the transportation environment changes considerably.
The Montgomery County Highway Department reports responsibility for approximately 844 miles of county roadway, including about:
64 miles of paved roadway
460 miles of chip-seal roadway
322 miles of gravel roadway
For drivers, this means defensive-driving decisions need to change with the road.
A driver may leave I-74, travel through a busy U.S. 231 intersection, continue through Crawfordsville, and then move onto a narrow gravel or chip-seal road within a relatively short distance.
Montgomery County's Primary Local Driving Issue: Freight Traffic and U.S. 136 at Nucor Road
One of Montgomery County's most locally specific traffic-safety issues is the U.S. 136/Nucor Road industrial corridor.
A county Local Road Safety Plan identified Nucor Road as experiencing high-volume freight traffic and roadway-departure concerns.
More recently, Montgomery County and INDOT advanced a major intersection-improvement project at U.S. 136 and Nucor Road.
Official project materials state that the project is intended to improve safety, traffic operations, and roadway reliability. The county documented steep roadway grades of approximately 6% from the south and 8% to 9% from the north, along with 12 crashes during a four-year period at the intersection.
The preferred project design converts Nucor Road into an overpass and uses a connector road to access U.S. 136. It also includes replacement of the nearby Walnut Fork Sugar Creek bridge.
This is a meaningful Montgomery County traffic issue rather than a generic defensive-driving topic.
Driving Around Heavy Trucks
The Nucor Road corridor demonstrates why passenger-car drivers need to adjust around commercial vehicles.
Large trucks:
Need more distance to stop.
Have larger blind spots.
Accelerate more slowly.
Require additional space when turning.
May travel differently on steep grades.
Can block a driver's view of approaching vehicles or intersections.
A passenger vehicle should not move immediately in front of a truck simply because there appears to be enough physical space for the car.
The space a truck driver leaves ahead of the vehicle may be necessary stopping distance.
Steep Grades and Intersection Sight Distance
The current U.S. 136/Nucor Road project also highlights another local issue: road grade.
Montgomery County's project materials specifically identify steep approaches as a safety and design concern.
A grade can affect both what a driver sees and how quickly a heavy vehicle can accelerate or stop.
Drivers approaching an intersection on rolling roads should avoid assuming that another vehicle will remain visible continuously as terrain changes.
Interstate 74 Through Montgomery County
I-74 is Montgomery County's principal interstate route.
INDOT identifies the U.S. 231/I-74 interchange at Crawfordsville, and the city describes I-74 as its major east-west interstate connection.
The interstate provides direct travel toward Indianapolis to the east and western Indiana and Illinois to the west.
For Montgomery County drivers, I-74 requires a different set of defensive-driving habits from local streets:
Maintain adequate following distance at highway speeds.
Watch traffic several vehicles ahead.
Check blind spots before changing lanes.
Allow space for vehicles entering at ramps.
Avoid following trucks too closely.
Move into the correct lane before an exit.
Expect traffic speed to change around construction or incidents.
Drivers moving from a rural county road directly toward I-74 should consciously adjust to the much higher speeds and closer interaction with other vehicles.
U.S. 231 Through Crawfordsville and Northern Montgomery County
U.S. 231 is one of Montgomery County's most important north-south routes.
INDOT identifies the U.S. 231/I-74 interchange in Crawfordsville, and Crawfordsville includes U.S. 231 among its principal regional highways.
The route continues north from Crawfordsville toward Linden and Tippecanoe County.
INDOT previously added auxiliary and passing lanes to a portion of U.S. 231 north of I-74, extending toward the Lafayette area.
INDOT is also currently developing an intersection-improvement project on U.S. 231 at South Street in Linden, showing the continuing transportation importance of the corridor outside Crawfordsville.
Passing on a Rural Highway
A passing lane does not eliminate the need for careful judgment.
Before passing, drivers should consider:
Whether the lane remains available long enough to complete the maneuver.
How quickly an approaching vehicle is closing.
Whether another driver is preparing to pass.
Whether the vehicle ahead may turn.
Whether a hill or curve limits sight distance.
Passing should not require another driver to brake or change direction.
U.S. 136
U.S. 136 is another important east-west route in Montgomery County and crosses the Crawfordsville area.
Its relationship with Nucor Road makes it especially significant for industrial and freight traffic. The county's current Nucor Road project is specifically designed to improve safety and traffic flow where those roads meet.
U.S. 136 also connects the county with smaller communities and rural roads.
Drivers should anticipate a mixture of:
Passenger vehicles
Trucks
Local traffic
Agricultural traffic
Vehicles turning onto county roads
Traffic entering Crawfordsville
State Road 32 and State Road 47
State Road 32 and State Road 47 are additional important Crawfordsville-area routes.
The City of Crawfordsville identifies both highways as part of its regional road network.
INDOT also identifies an I-74 interchange with State Road 32 in the Crawfordsville area.
State roads such as SR 32 and SR 47 require drivers to manage conditions that differ from I-74.
They may include:
At-grade intersections
Residential and business entrances
Changing speed limits
Agricultural traffic
Pedestrians in developed areas
Vehicles turning without an interchange ramp
Crawfordsville: Montgomery County's Transportation Center
Crawfordsville is the county seat and dominant incorporated community, with an estimated 16,699 residents in 2025, representing about 43% of Montgomery County's population.
The city sits at the center of a significant road network.
Crawfordsville's official transportation information identifies:
I-74
U.S. 231
U.S. 136
State Road 32
State Road 47
as key highway connections.
Crawfordsville also has two Class I rail lines and Amtrak passenger service, adding rail crossings and transportation activity to the local environment.
Drivers entering the city from I-74 or a U.S. highway should be prepared to transition quickly to:
Traffic signals
Lower speed limits
Downtown intersections
Commercial entrances
Pedestrians
College traffic
Railroad crossings
Local residential traffic
Wabash College and Student Traffic
Wabash College provides Crawfordsville with another locally specific traffic factor.
Wabash is a private four-year college located in Crawfordsville. Its official 2025-26 facts report 908 students in fall 2025, with a 92-acre campus containing more than 60 buildings.
The campus is close to downtown Crawfordsville, so university-related traffic interacts directly with the city's street system.
Although Wabash is considerably smaller than universities found in counties such as Monroe or Tippecanoe, it still creates localized patterns involving:
Student vehicles
Pedestrians
Visitors
Athletic events
Move-in and orientation traffic
Campus deliveries
Drivers searching for parking
Wabash's Little Giant Stadium seats approximately 3,300 people, meaning major athletic events can temporarily increase traffic around campus.
Drivers near campus should watch carefully for pedestrians before turning and allow extra time when events are taking place.
Industrial Traffic Around Crawfordsville
Crawfordsville's road system is also important to industrial transportation.
The city emphasizes its ability to move freight using I-74, U.S. highways, state highways, and two Class I rail systems.
The county's current Nucor Road infrastructure project reinforces the importance of industrial transportation east and southeast of Crawfordsville. County officials have identified the project as important both for safety and future economic activity.
Drivers around industrial areas should anticipate:
Tractor-trailers
Shift-change traffic
Employees entering and leaving facilities
Trucks making wide turns
Vehicles moving between local roads and U.S. highways
Rural Road Driving in Montgomery County
Montgomery County's extensive road network creates a very different driving environment outside Crawfordsville.
The Highway Department reports approximately 844 miles of roadway, with the majority consisting of chip-seal or gravel roads rather than conventional asphalt pavement.
Gravel and chip-seal roads require different driving decisions.
Drivers should:
Reduce speed before curves.
Allow more stopping distance on loose surfaces.
Avoid abrupt steering.
Watch for dust reducing visibility.
Expect narrow road shoulders.
Approach intersections cautiously.
Watch for farm equipment and local traffic.
Reduce speed when meeting another vehicle on a narrow road.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Department has separately described the county as covering approximately 504 square miles with roughly 845 miles of county roads and 160 miles of state highways.
Shades State Park and Recreational Traffic
Western and southwestern Montgomery County have a separate recreational-driving environment.
Shades State Park is located at:
7751 S. 890 W.Waveland, IN 47989
Indiana DNR describes the park as being approximately 17 miles southwest of Crawfordsville off State Road 47. It is particularly popular with hikers and canoeists and includes more than 100 non-electric campsites.
The park's location creates traffic involving:
Campers
Visitors unfamiliar with local roads
Vehicles carrying recreational equipment
Cyclists
Canoe and outdoor recreation traffic
Drivers traveling on rural roads near Waveland
Increased traffic during favorable weather and weekends
Drivers should expect visitors to slow unexpectedly while looking for park entrances or navigation directions.
Curves, Hills, and Reduced Visibility
Shades State Park is known for sandstone cliffs, ravines, wooded terrain, and Sugar Creek.
Roads in this portion of the county can therefore feel different from the more open agricultural landscape elsewhere in Montgomery County.
Drivers should select a speed that allows them to stop within the visible roadway ahead.
Driving Around Ladoga
Ladoga is Montgomery County's second-largest incorporated community, with an estimated 1,103 residents in 2025.
Its road environment is substantially more rural than Crawfordsville's.
Ladoga Road also connects with the industrial area around the Nucor facility, where county records identify a combination of industrial and agricultural land uses.
A future Ladoga traffic-school page can therefore focus on:
Rural road transitions
Industrial traffic
Nucor-related transportation
Agricultural roads
Travel toward Crawfordsville and U.S. 136
Driving Around Waynetown
Waynetown had an estimated 976 residents in 2025, making it one of the county's larger towns outside Crawfordsville.
The community is surrounded by rural western Montgomery County.
Drivers should be prepared for the transition from town streets to roads where traffic may be lighter but speeds and sight-distance decisions remain important.
A Waynetown page could also address travel toward Crawfordsville and I-74 without duplicating Crawfordsville's urban content.
Driving Around Linden
Linden had an estimated 742 residents in 2025.
Its strongest traffic-specific feature is U.S. 231.
INDOT currently has an intersection-improvement project involving U.S. 231 at South Street in Linden.
That gives a future Linden city page a genuine local angle involving U.S. 231 traffic, highway intersections, and rural-road connections rather than relying on generic traffic-school material.
Driving Around Darlington
Darlington had an estimated 724 residents in 2025.
The town sits within northern Montgomery County's rural transportation network.
A local page should focus on small-town driving, nearby state and county roads, agricultural surroundings, and the relationship to Crawfordsville and the county court system.
New Market, Waveland, New Richmond, New Ross, Wingate, and Alamo
Montgomery County contains several additional incorporated towns.
Their estimated 2025 populations were:
New Market: 567
Waveland: 443
New Richmond: 318
New Ross: 314
Wingate: 252
Alamo: 67
These communities are all substantially smaller than Crawfordsville.
Waveland has the strongest standalone local traffic angle among this group because of its relationship to Shades State Park, which uses a Waveland address and draws recreational traffic to southwestern Montgomery County.
The other smaller towns should receive independent pages only if keyword demand and available local transportation information justify them.
Courts Handling Traffic Tickets in Montgomery County
Montgomery County's current court structure provides a clear answer for ordinary traffic infractions.
The Indiana Supreme Court approved amended Montgomery County local rules in August 2025, effective January 1, 2026.
Those current rules state that all infraction and ordinance-violation cases are assigned to Montgomery Superior Court 2.
The same rules assign most misdemeanor cases to Superior Court 2 as well, while more serious criminal matters may be assigned differently.
This makes Montgomery Superior Court 2 the principal traffic court for an ordinary Montgomery County citation.
Montgomery Superior Court 2
Montgomery Superior Court 2Montgomery County Courthouse100 E. Main Street, Room 302Crawfordsville, IN 47933
The Indiana Judicial Branch's current court directory lists Superior Court 2 at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Crawfordsville.
The county also provides a dedicated traffic-fines contact associated with Superior Court II.
Under the current local rules, all infraction and ordinance-violation cases are assigned to this court.
Drivers should still check the court identified on the citation or MyCase record because cases can be transferred between courts and more serious traffic-related charges are treated differently.
Completing ABetterDriver's BMV-approved Driver Safety Program does not automatically dismiss a ticket filed in Montgomery Superior Court 2.
Montgomery County Clerk and Traffic Tickets
Montgomery County Clerk's OfficeMontgomery County Courthouse100 E. Main StreetCrawfordsville, IN 47933
The Clerk's Office handles traffic fines and provides information for paying traffic tickets. The county currently directs drivers to Indiana MyCase for online ticket payments.
If you are unsure about a payment amount, appearance date, or case assignment, review your citation and contact the Clerk rather than assuming completion of a course changes the pending case.
Montgomery County Traffic Deferral Program
Montgomery County has a Traffic Deferral Program administered through the Prosecutor's Office.
The county states that traffic violators with limited or no history of traffic violations may be eligible to participate in traffic deferral.
The county also expressly states that the program is not available to holders of a Commercial Driver's License.
The official county information directs drivers to contact the Prosecutor's Office for additional eligibility information.
Montgomery County Prosecutor
Montgomery County Prosecuting Attorney's Office100 E. Main StreetCrawfordsville, IN 47933
The official county directory identifies the Prosecutor's Office at the Montgomery County Courthouse.
Drivers interested in traffic deferral can contact the Prosecutor's Office before paying the citation or assuming that the ticket qualifies.
Does Every Montgomery County Ticket Qualify for Deferral?
No.
The county states only that traffic violators with limited or no violation history may qualify. It does not say that every traffic citation is eligible.
Eligibility should therefore be confirmed directly with the Prosecutor.
Is Montgomery County Traffic Deferral the Same as ABetterDriver?
No.
These are separate programs.
Montgomery County Traffic Deferral is a local prosecutor program connected with an eligible pending traffic case.
The Indiana BMV Driver Safety Program is a statewide defensive-driving program used for BMV requirements and the voluntary four-point credit.
The public Montgomery County traffic-deferral information reviewed does not state that every deferral participant must complete ABetterDriver or another BMV-approved DSP.
Do not enroll in a DSP under the assumption that doing so automatically places a Montgomery County ticket into deferral.
Can I Take Traffic School for a Montgomery County Traffic Ticket?
Possibly, but the answer depends on what you are trying to accomplish.
BMV-Required Driver Safety Program
The Indiana BMV may require you to complete a BMV-approved DSP because of your driving record.
Voluntary Indiana 4-Point Credit
Any Indiana driver may voluntarily complete a BMV-approved DSP and receive an eligible four-point credit, subject to the once-every-three-years rule.
Montgomery County Traffic Deferral
The Montgomery County Prosecutor offers a Traffic Deferral Program to certain drivers with limited or no traffic-violation history. CDL holders are not eligible.
Court-Ordered Program
Montgomery Superior Court 2 may impose a particular requirement in an individual case.
Completing ABetterDriver does not automatically dismiss a Montgomery County traffic ticket or place the citation into traffic deferral.
Crawfordsville Indiana BMV Branch
Montgomery County has an Indiana BMV branch in Crawfordsville.
Crawfordsville BMV Branch1629 Eastway DriveCrawfordsville, IN 47933
The Indiana BMV's current branch directory lists the Crawfordsville branch at this address.
A Montgomery County driver generally does not need to visit the branch simply to enroll in ABetterDriver's online Driver Safety Program.
Montgomery County Driver Safety Program FAQ
Is ABetterDriver approved by the Indiana BMV?
Yes. The Indiana BMV currently lists ABetterDriver.com as an approved Driver Safety Program provider offering online and DVD courses.
Can I take Indiana traffic school online from Montgomery County?
Yes. Indiana permits BMV-approved Driver Safety Programs to be completed online.
How long is the Indiana Driver Safety Program?
Every BMV-approved DSP has a minimum duration of four hours.
Can I voluntarily take the DSP for a four-point credit?
Yes. Any Indiana driver may successfully complete a BMV-approved DSP for a four-point credit, subject to the BMV's once-every-three-years rule.
Does the four-point credit erase my Montgomery County traffic ticket?
No. The BMV states that completing a Driver Safety Program does not remove a citation from the driver's history.
Which court handles ordinary Montgomery County traffic infractions?
Under Montgomery County's current local rules effective January 1, 2026, all infraction and ordinance-violation cases are assigned to Montgomery Superior Court 2.
Where is Montgomery Superior Court 2?
Montgomery Superior Court 2 is located in the Montgomery County Courthouse at 100 E. Main Street in Crawfordsville.
Does Montgomery County have a traffic-ticket deferral program?
Yes. Montgomery County states that traffic violators with limited or no history of traffic violations may be eligible for its Traffic Deferral Program.
Can a CDL holder use Montgomery County Traffic Deferral?
No. The county expressly states that its Traffic Deferral Program is not available to Commercial Driver's License holders.
Does Montgomery County Traffic Deferral require ABetterDriver?
The official county information reviewed does not state that every participant must complete ABetterDriver or another BMV-approved DSP. The programs should be treated separately.
What are the major highways in Montgomery County?
Crawfordsville's official transportation information identifies I-74, U.S. 231, U.S. 136, State Road 32, and State Road 47 as major routes serving the city and county transportation system.
Why is Nucor Road important to Montgomery County traffic?
County safety planning has identified high-volume freight traffic on Nucor Road, and a current U.S. 136/Nucor Road project is designed to improve safety, traffic operations, and roadway reliability.
How many crashes were documented at U.S. 136 and Nucor Road?
The county's 2025 project materials state that 12 crashes occurred during a four-year period at the intersection.
Is U.S. 231 an important route in Montgomery County?
Yes. U.S. 231 intersects I-74 at Crawfordsville and continues north through the county. INDOT is currently developing an intersection improvement at U.S. 231 and South Street in Linden.
Is Wabash College in Crawfordsville?
Yes. Wabash College is located in Crawfordsville and reported 908 students in fall 2025.
Is Shades State Park in the Montgomery County area?
Yes. Indiana DNR lists Shades State Park at 7751 S. 890 W., Waveland, and describes it as approximately 17 miles southwest of Crawfordsville off State Road 47.
How extensive is Montgomery County's rural road network?
The County Highway Department reports maintaining approximately 844 miles of roadway, including hundreds of miles of chip-seal and gravel roads.
Is there a BMV branch in Montgomery County?
Yes. The Crawfordsville BMV Branch is located at 1629 Eastway Drive.
Complete Your Montgomery County Indiana Driver Safety Program Online
If you need an Indiana BMV-approved Driver Safety Program, want to obtain an eligible four-point credit, or received a BMV notice requiring DSP completion, ABetterDriver provides an online option for Montgomery County drivers.
If your course is connected to a pending Montgomery County citation, verify the requirements of Montgomery Superior Court 2 or the Montgomery County Prosecutor before enrolling.
Start your Indiana Driver Safety Program with ABetterDriver.com.
Cities and Towns in Montgomery County
Indiana's official county directory identifies 11 incorporated cities and towns in Montgomery County: Alamo, Crawfordsville, Darlington, Ladoga, Linden, New Market, New Richmond, New Ross, Waveland, Waynetown, and Wingate.
Crawfordsville
Crawfordsville is the county seat and largest city, with an estimated 16,699 residents in 2025.
Its I-74 interchange, U.S. 231, U.S. 136, SR 32, SR 47, Wabash College, industrial traffic, county courthouse, Superior Court 2, Prosecutor's Office, and BMV branch provide extensive material for a strong standalone page.