Mary E. Cooper, 101-Year-Old D.C. Driver, Plays It Safe On Roads In Nation's Capital

WASHINGTON -- Time and time again, various lists and rankings show that the nation's capital has some of the worst -- if not the worst -- drivers in all the land.

With congested roads, confusing traffic patterns, traffic circles, reversible one-way streets and other maddening conditions, driving around the District of Columbia can be difficult for any driver. But what about a 101-year-old woman?

Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy recently took a spin with Mary E. Cooper of Northeast D.C.'s North Michigan Park neighborhood and found that the centenarian to be quite confident behind the wheel but "sometimes did that old-folk creep-along."

"Look. First of all, I do not exceed the speed limit," she said. "If the speed limit is 25, I drive 25. If the speed limit is 40, I can do 35. And if it's 50 or 60, I’m just going to do what I can."

Cooper takes it easy for good reason: She got a $40 speeding ticket recently.

Read Milloy's full column here.