Hey, how about those Tigers!  A win is always a great way to start the baseball season.  And like most people I’m looking forward to an interesting and successful regular season, with a season extension in October.  Put me in coach, I’m ready to play!

Teresa Lyden, Speech Pathologist, from the University of Michigan Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology/Speech Pathology contacted me for information regarding the operation of a motor vehicle while taking medication.  She was seeking information for patients who may be issued medication for various treatments and then drive.

Everyone knows if a person drinks alcohol, to excess, then makes another poor decision to drive their vehicle and is stopped by the police, that person is likely to go to jail for Operating While Impaired (OWI).   This is never a good thing to do.

Baseball’s spring training has begun and it looks like the Tigers will provide stiff competition in their division and the American League.  I’m looking forward to attending a game or two and snacking on the peanuts and hotdogs as both seem to taste better at the ball park.

Thanks to Mike Gorman, of Ann Arbor, MI, who noticed a small, but significant, conundrum with the last Ask A Trooper column and emailed me.   

I was going to comment about the wonderful early spring we are having, the arrival of the sandhill cranes, herons and starlings.  Then Friday’s snow storm happened and I think I’ll just wait a few more weeks before I get geared up for “spring.”  Hope your Friday drive into work went well.

Kifton Dillow – Livingston County would like me to write about “safe following distances” and “Right-of-way” in “round-abouts”.

Let’s tackle the safe following distance.  MCL 257.643 specifically covers following to close.  MCL257.643(1) states, “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicles and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the highway.”