The new year kicks off with Traffic School immediately swerving into the guardrail in the best possible way. Viktor drags Lieutenant Crain back into the studio after what feels like a legally questionable hiatus, and within minutes the show descends into a philosophical debate about whether a car can legally live its entire life in reverse. This question—courtesy of the season’s first call from Crazy J—sets the tone: logic will be challenged, patience will be tested, and common sense will be taken out back and lightly scolded. From there, the episode ricochets through everything from kneecap-based law enforcement hypotheticals to the sobering realization that yes, Idaho law does in fact expect you to stop when exiting a parking lot, even if you’re late and spiritually opposed to stopping.
As the calls roll in, the show tackles the real issues plaguing society: break-checking as a lifestyle choice, why insurance companies absolutely hate you on a personal level, and whether being drunk, anxious, apologetic, or mounted on a horse will magically exempt you from consequences. Viktor pitches increasingly dumb scenarios with absolute confidence, while Lieutenant Crain patiently explains—again—that intent still matters, reverse is not a travel strategy, and no, tapping your brakes to “send a message” is not the loophole you think it is. Somewhere in the middle, the conversation detours into stolen mandolins, electric bluegrass fantasies, public nudity hypotheticals involving hot tubs, and a deeply scientific estimate of what percentage of the population is walking around with their brain unplugged.
The episode wraps by answering questions nobody asked but everyone needed answered: how long a train is supposed to block your life, why on-ramps continue to defeat fully licensed adults, whether Santa is operating under a federal exemption, and how many laws exist purely to irritate Viktor specifically. Toss in a Family Feud tease, a snowblower casualty report, and multiple callers named John, and you’ve got an episode that feels less like traffic school and more like an audio stress test for civilization. Welcome to the new year—nothing has improved.