Be Warned: Sitting in Traffic Listening to This Podcast Means Things Are Good

The summer is winding down, but there is one last burst of driving around Labor Day. The AAA is expecting traffic volume to return to pre-Great Recession levels so get ready to slow down.

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Mathew's warning.

But when you get back on the road after your weekend, be happy to get stuck in traffic because that means the economy is doing better. INRIX found an unsurprising correlation between traffic and economy activity.

If you use cruise control to get where you are going on your next road trip please be careful because again -- no surprise -- it makes it harder to control the vehicle.

Another thing that impacts safety are motor regulations and this dramatic map shows globally how many road deaths there are.

In the U.S. we have many laws governing driving and ownership. Those rules usually add costs, and here is a look at the most and least expensive states to own a car.

Finally, be wary of wacky road rules. Again, the whims of regulators lead to a plethora of varying driving laws.

This Podcast Would Make an Epic Traffic Jam More Fun

In this episode of the GTSOTR podcast:

We look at the cost of buying, owning and driving a car around the world.

Perhaps some of those road tolls and congestion fees could have prevented some of these epic traffic jams.

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Epic traffic in China

Mercedes-Benz is putting QR codes on its vehicles to help first responders access the cars "rescue plans."

Another clever use of QR codes is happening in Portland, Ore., where the local transit system is developing a system to allow passengers to buy tickets via their smartphones.

A new study predicts that the in-car mobile app market could reach more than $1 billion in less than five years.

While Mathew is saving his money for more important things like his rising insurance rates, David is hoping that this awesome remote-control car-quadcopter can be his in the nearish future.

We're Not Lying, This Automotive Podcast Is 'Focused' on Best-Selling Cars

Yet again there is debate about the top-selling car of the year for 2012: Is it the Ford Focus or the Toyota Corolla? We don't care but the debate is interesting.

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Both of those cars are fairly inexpensive to own and run, which is important because the AAA says that the cost of vehicle ownership is rising. Perhaps that is why most people want a better deal more than they want a good-looking car.

But as competition heats up, vehicle interiors are getting more important and Ward's Auto named its best looking interiors for 2013.

A future classic from China, the Wuling Sunshine 

Many classic SUVs have very spartan interiors, but that probably won't limit their appeal to vehicle collectors, who are predicted to take an interest in the segment.

In the future, cars might have motors in the wheels instead of under the hood.

It's not a lie that men more than occasionally bend the truth. Especially about car accidents and insurance.

Finally, Mathew admits that he is a steering-wheel drummer, and a company has introduced a gadget that we need to get him for his pending nuptials.

This Automotive Podcast Is Not Distracted by Tepid Car Sales or New Taxes

There were no surprises in February auto sales, nor is it surprising that a recent study supported by Zipcar found that phones are more important to young people than cars.

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While in Florida, David spotted several rare Chevrolet Captivas, which are selling well enough to get a refresh. But that's not a vehicle which would help improve Consumer Report's brand rating, which was released and the Japanese brands did the best, as usual.

Infotainment systems were some of the reason that American brands didn't do well. But GM is hoping that adding 4G services will help drive demand.

That might add more to the average cost of a vehicle, which according to one study is already more than most people in the U.S. can afford. Speaking of costs, the loss of gas-tax revenue is enough that states like Oregon are looking to charge more taxes for electric vehicles. That might be enough to dent sales, but probably not as much as the bad NYTimes article did to Tesla.

Speaking of bad news, Hyundai and Kia are looking to settle all the outstanding lawsuits related to their  sloppy fuel-economy numbers.

New parents, specifically moms, are the most distracted drivers. Teens are probably second on that list, and that might account for an increase in teen driver deaths.

Finally, Los Angeles is synchronizing all of its traffic lights to speed people along and save energy.

This Automotive Podcast Is Hefty, But Not Obese

Car sales are back and they are confusing. While things didn't look as good as they have, the reality is that there were three fewer selling days. Still, most brands posted gains and the annual sales rate continues to rise for 2012.

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David has been doing some more intense car shopping and while a manual transmission hasn't been a priority, more drivers are choosing to shift themselves again.

Classic electric

One reason to shop: the rising cost of owning a car -- especially one that gets poor fuel economy. The annual cost rose to $8,946, up 1.9% from last year, mostly due to higher fuel costs.

Hefty drivers and passengers are also pushing up costs because they take more energy to push around, and that means more gasoline: $4 billion worth.

Obese drivers probably aren't well suited to scooters, but in China, dual-mode transportation like a car plus a scooter, is a solution to crowded roads and limited parking.

David got a chance to drive a Chevrolet Volt recently, and while he was impressed, we're not sure it's going to be a classic like this 1909 electric vehicle.

Finally, New Jersey wants you to chill out behind the wheel after making road rage a more serious offense.