RIO DE JANEIRO, March 19 (RIA Novosti) - A 12-year-old girl has been detained in eastern Brazil after she was caught driving her father's car on a busy highway, traffic police said.

The Toyota Corolla caught the eye of Pernambuco traffic cops, as it appeared to be driver-less. On taking a closer look, they saw a young girl behind the wheel, sitting on the very edge of the driver's seat in order to reach the pedals.

When asked why she was driving alone, six years before being legally eligible for a license, she explained that she was "going to school."

Her father insisted he had no idea she had been using his car, but the family's neighbors said they had seen her driving the car on several occasions.