The number of drivers aged over 90 has surpassed the 100,000 mark for the first time in Great Britain.

Data released by the DVLA also showed that 4.5 million people over the age of 70 also hold driving licences. In total, there are 39 million people with licences in the UK.

In an effort to ensure people have the requisite driving skills, older motorists are required to fill out a self-assessment form declaring they are fit enough to continue driving.

However, new research suggests that drivers do not necessarily become more liable to crash as they age.

A Swansea University study in 2016 revealed that younger drivers aged 17-21 were three to four times more likely than over-70s to be involved in a collision.

The study was undertaken by the Centre for Innovative Ageing. The Centre's Professor Charles Musselwhite said: "We've looked at those statistics in depth and we don't think that as a cohort older drivers are any more dangerous than other road users."

A report for the Older Drivers' Taskforce, published in July 2016, analysed police records and concluded that over-70s were less likely to kill a pedestrian than a middle aged driver, while the risk was less than half of a driver aged under 26.

On the downside, the study found that certain skills did reduce with age, including the ability to judge speed and general vision and reaction times.

For many older people, being able to drive gives them a freedom they would not otherwise have - particularly if they live in remote or hilly locations.

Some drivers choose to keep their skills sharp with refresher course from their local councils.

The latest figures revealed there are currently 1,216,548 drivers aged 80 to 89, while there are 108,777 drivers aged 90 and over.