June 20, 2012 -- Driving is a freedom and autonomy. More importantly, it’s a privilege and not a right. So, how do you choose the right time and way to tell an elderly family member that it’s time to give up the care keys?

Some people are able to continue driving in the early stages of Alzheimer`s disease, but it requires ongoing evaluation to ensure safety. Dr. David Carr of Washington University’s School of Medicine tells us the following are signs that it may be time to stop driving:

Forgetting how to locate familiar places
Failing to observe traffic signs
Making slow or poor decisions in traffic
Driving at an inappropriate speed
Becoming angry or confused while driving
Hitting curbs
Using poor lane control
Making errors at intersections
Confusing the brake and gas pedals
Returning from a routine drive later than usual
Forgetting the destination you are driving to during the trip

The Alzheimer’s Association has a 24/7 call center to answer all those hard questions. Their number is 1-800-272-3900.

Posted by Veronica Silva Cusi, news correspondent
Source: http://fox2now.com