DORSET has thousands of drivers over the age of 90, one of the highest outside of Greater London, new figures show.

A total of 2,855 people over 90 hold a driving licence in the county, one of the highest in the country after the capital which has 8,345 and behind Hampshire who have 4,457.

Across the UK there are 100,000 drivers in their 90s for the first time, while 4.5 million of the 39 million people holding valid driving licences are over 70.

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor of insurance comparison site Confused.com, said: “We have seen more and more quotes requested by drivers aged over 90 over the past six years, with the level increasing by 60 per cent since 2011, so this trend reflects the figures released by the DVLA.”

Ms Stretton pointed out that the average quote for someone over the age of 70 is around £522, far lower than younger drivers.

She added: “So this could be interpreted that they are actually safer drivers than, for example, 18-year-olds who pay £2,334 for their premiums.”

However, the British Motor Insurance Association (BMIA) said elderly drivers were more likely to be involved in accidents and that the figures were too high.

A BMIA spokesperson said: “Older drivers also have poorer eyesight and can be more susceptible to injury.”

Under current legalisation, drivers over the age of 75 are required to fill in a self-assessment every three years declaring they are medically fit to continue driving.

The news comes after Dorset Police after launched the ‘Older Drivers Forum’ which is designed to help keep older drivers on the road safely, for longer.

The forum offers training, advice and guidance for those motorists who are keen to continue driving safely, and resources for those who feel that the time is right for them to ‘retire’ from getting behind the wheel.

Police Constable Heidi Moxam, Road Casualty Reduction Officer for Dorset Police, said: "It is vital we invest resources in helping older drivers to be safe on the road and provide guidance and support to those who need to consider alternative methods of transport.

"The forum also works to provide an alternative to prosecution for low level offences where a bespoke set of circumstances suggest the driver needs further motoring and health assessments."