How To Handle Holiday Traffic And Aging Drivers
About this episode
Texas State Trooper Sergeant Steve Woodard joins the crew to discuss navigating heavy July 4th holiday traffic and the influx of drivers from FIFA events. The conversation takes a poignant turn as Woodard and the hosts tackle the difficult decision of when aging drivers should hand over their keys. The hosts share personal, eye-opening stories about their own parents' struggles with driving in their later years, alongside lighter discussions about a successful road trip in a project 1970s van and nostalgic fireworks memories.
A holiday road trip can flip from fun to dangerous in seconds, and that is why we wanted a real-world Fourth of July safety check from Texas Department of Public Safety. We finally reach a trooper out on the roads, talking enforcement, summer traffic, and what it looks like when Texas is packed with visitors and major-event crowds. We also hit a detail that sounds small but gets people in trouble fast: extreme heat and dehydration, especially when you are driving long stretches or spending hours outside before you ever get behind the wheel.
Then the conversation takes a heavier turn. We wrestle with the question families dread: how do you know when someone is too old to drive? We talk cognitive decline, reaction time, and the emotional reality that a driver’s license is more than permission to drive, it is freedom. We share personal stories about taking the keys, what happens when a parent forgets they no longer has a car, and how “don’t drive” only works if you have a plan to replace independence with real support.
We keep the car-lover energy going with our cruise-in and events calendar for the July 4 weekend, then dive into the week’s automotive news. Tesla tops the Cars.com American-Made Index again, while EV representation shifts and hybrids stay competitive. We also unpack a California vehicle technology rule tied to preventing domestic violence tracking, which opens a wider debate about connected cars, location data, and whether drivers should get a true off switch. Finally, we look at how the AI boom is driving DRAM memory chip prices higher and reshaping the supply chain behind software-defined vehicles, infotainment, ADAS, and over-the-air updates.
Subscribe for more straight talk on cars, share this with a friend who is driving for the holiday, and leave a review with your take: what is the fairest way to handle an aging driver in the family?
Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!
The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas
Gulf Coast Auto Shield
Paint protection, tint, and more!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
---- -----
Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?
In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!
Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.
----- -----
Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.
In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:
Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.
Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTime
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/
https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltime
https://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTime
For more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at
[email protected]
Steve Woodard
"Just ahead, State Trooper Sergeant Steve Woodard from the Department of Public Safety, Texas, USA."
A Texas State Trooper sergeant who joins the show to share safety tips for driving during busy holidays.
State Trooper Sergeant Steve Woodard is a representative of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) who frequently appears on automotive and local talk shows to discuss traffic safety, holiday enforcement periods, and driving regulations.
Chevrolet Malibu
"The the front end of the car, it was a Malibu. Front end of the car was all the way up to the dashboard of the car."
A common mid-sized four-door family car made by Chevrolet. It has been around for decades and is known for being a sensible, everyday vehicle.
The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size car manufactured by General Motors, spanning multiple generations since its introduction in 1964. In its modern front-wheel-drive iterations, it has served as a staple of Chevrolet's sedan lineup, known for practical family transportation and solid safety ratings.
lane-keep assist
"Because for you, me, for all of us, we're all car lovers, and I enjoy driving, and I don't like uh I don't like uh steering wheel that tries to drive for me, it drives me insane. So I usually turn that feature off if the car has one."
A safety feature in newer cars that gently steers the car back into the center of the lane if you start to drift over the painted lines without signaling.
Lane-keep assist (LKA) is an active safety feature that monitors road markings and automatically applies corrective steering torque if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane without a turn signal. It is designed to prevent highway accidents caused by driver distraction or fatigue.
Cars and Coffee
"And then you got the Las Las Hacienda Cars and Coffee. This is at 2951 Marina Bay Drive in League City. It goes from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., right in the sweet spot. Uh, it's for cars and coffee."
A casual weekend morning meetup where people bring their cool, unique, or classic cars to show them off in a parking lot while drinking coffee and chatting with other car fans.
Cars and Coffee is an informal, recurring automotive gathering where car enthusiasts meet early on weekend mornings to showcase their vehicles and socialize over coffee. These events are typically open to all makes and models, from vintage classics to modern supercars.
Tesla
"Tesla again has the most American-made vehicle. Let me say that again. Tesla is the most American-made vehicle."
An American car company that only makes electric vehicles, famous for popularizing electric cars and building a massive network of fast-charging stations.
Tesla, Inc. is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company founded in 2003. It pioneered the modern high-performance electric vehicle market, establishing its own proprietary Supercharger fast-charging network and shifting industry focus toward software-defined vehicles.
Tesla Model 3
"The Model 3 Sedan and Model Y crossover held the top two spots in the 2026 Cars.com American-Made Index, buoyed by Tesla's higher percentage of domestic parts content and U.S. assembly employment, researchers said."
A popular, fully electric four-door sedan made by Tesla. It is one of the best-selling electric cars in the world and is known for its high-tech features and quick acceleration.
The Tesla Model 3 is an all-electric four-door compact executive sedan first produced in 2017. It features a rear- or dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric powertrain and is celebrated for popularizing mass-market electric vehicles with its impressive range and minimalist interior.
Tesla Model Y
"The Model 3 Sedan and Model Y crossover held the top two spots in the 2026 Cars.com American-Made Index, buoyed by Tesla's higher percentage of domestic parts content and U.S. assembly employment, researchers said."
A fully electric compact SUV made by Tesla that looks like a taller version of the Model 3 sedan. It is highly popular for its spacious cabin and cargo room.
The Tesla Model Y is a battery-electric compact crossover SUV introduced in 2020, sharing its platform and many parts with the Model 3 sedan. It offers a higher seating position, optional third-row seating, and a hatchback design, making it highly popular among families seeking an electric utility vehicle.
American-Made Index
"The Model 3 Sedan and Model Y crossover held the top two spots in the 2026 Cars.com American-Made Index, buoyed by Tesla's higher percentage of domestic parts content and U.S. assembly employment, researchers said."
An annual list that ranks which cars sold in the US are actually the most "American" based on where they are built and where their parts come from.
The Cars.com American-Made Index is an annual study that ranks vehicles built and bought in the United States based on criteria such as assembly location, parts sourcing, factory employment, and engine/transmission origins.
software-defined vehicle
"Just as automakers lean into the software-defined vehicle transition, spot prices for a type of in-demand memory called DRAM skyrocketed about 450% from September of last year to January of this year."
A modern car whose features and performance can be changed, updated, or improved through software updates over the internet, much like a smartphone.
A software-defined vehicle (SDV) is an industry term for a vehicle whose features, functions, and user experience are primarily enabled and upgraded through software rather than hardware modifications. This architecture relies heavily on centralized computing and over-the-air updates.
over-the-air updates
"According to a May report from the consulting firm Kearney, DRAM is uh key to enabling over-the-year updates, advanced driver assistance systems, uh, autonomy infotainment, and other functions for advanced vehicles that consumers increasingly expect."
Wireless software updates sent directly to your car over the internet, allowing the manufacturer to fix issues or add new features without you having to take the car to a mechanic.
Over-the-air (OTA) updates are wireless deliveries of new software, firmware, or settings to a vehicle's onboard computers via cellular or Wi-Fi connections. This allows manufacturers to fix bugs, add features, or improve performance without requiring a dealership visit.
advanced driver assistance systems
"According to a May report from the consulting firm Kearney, DRAM is uh key to enabling over-the-year updates, advanced driver assistance systems, uh, autonomy infotainment, and other functions for advanced vehicles that consumers increasingly expect."
A collection of safety technologies in modern cars—like automatic braking, blind-spot warnings, and adaptive cruise control—that help the driver avoid accidents.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) encompass electronic technologies that assist drivers in driving and parking functions. Using sensors, cameras, and radar, ADAS features include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring to improve vehicle safety.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.