Over-90s take to life behind the wheel

Official figures obtained from licensing organisation the DVLA by the Co-operative Motor Group showed that there are as many as 48 drivers in their 90s who have provisional licences, with the oldest being 98 – and there are more than 10,000 people aged over 70 who are learners.

London has the most 70-plus learners, with about 1,000. Next is Birmingham with 413, followed by Sheffield (233), Liverpool (228), Manchester (201), Glasgow (175) and Cardiff (162).

Unsurprisingly, the largest age group for learning to drive are those in their teens and 20s (42.45 per cent), while those in their 30s make up 20 per cent, with the 40-somethings accounting for 18.5 per cent, those in their 50s making up 11.45 per cent and those in their 60s comprising 7.4 per cent.

Altogether, more than seven million UK drivers have provisional licences.