SCOTLAND'S worst driver has an astounding 24 points on his or her licence and lives in a leafy Glasgow suburb, officials have revealed.

The unnamed motorist from Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, is one of 98 Scottish drivers still allowed behind the wheel despite more than the 12 penalty points needed for a ban.

Sheriffs can use their discretion not to ban drivers - but only in exceptional circumstances.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), obtained details of high-points drivers in a freedom of information request to the DVLA

The institute said it was time to crack down on irresponsible drivers who talk judges out of banning them.

The second-worst Scottish driver has 20 points on their licence and lives in Leven, Fife. Third place on the list of shame is a driver from the G33 postcode in north-east Glasgow, with 19 points.

Four drivers have 18 points and live in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Musselburgh, East Lothian, Haddington, East Lothian, and Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.

The IAM's Simon Best said: "DVLA must rapidly overhaul their systems and working relationships with the courts to ensure the whole principle of 12 points and you are off the road is not undermined.

"Any suggestion some drivers may be able to speed … then talk themselves out of a ban puts our whole approach to enforcement into question."