Hundreds of drivers in Scotland are still on the road despite having more than 12 penalty points on their licences.

The figures come after it was revealed that more than three quarters of drivers who apply to have court-imposed disqualifications cut short are successful

The latest figures, compiled by The Co-operative Insurance, include such drivers, but also those who escape a ban, because of leniency by the courts, and those who have served a ban but are yet to have the points removed from their licence.

The FoI request to the DVLA revealed that more than 6,500 motorists are on the UK's roads with over 12 penalty points. Scotland is home to 288 of them, and listed by postcode area there are 57 in Glasgow, 43 in Edinburgh, 29 in Kirkcaldy and 26 in Aberdeen.

The figures showed that 26-35s were the most likely to be driving with 12 points or more.

Nottingham has the UK's highest number of motorists on 12 or more points with 180 in its postcode area alone, while Glasgow was ranked 42nd in the UK. The figures showed a strong gender imbalance with men making up 84% of those clocking up 12 points and still driving.

The worst examples revealed by the FoI request included a female driver in Blackburn with 38 penalty points on her licence and a male driver in Liverpool with 45 penalty points on his licence

Steve Kerrigan, Head of Telematics at The Co-operative Insurance said: "It is clear that there are a large number of drivers on the roads with over 12 penalty points on their licenses.

"Despite young drivers having the reputation for being the worst motorists we have found that in majority of cases older drivers, aged 26 to 55, have more points than any other, and as a proportion of their age group."

He said telematics products which help motorists monitor their performance could help improve driving standards.

Courts can disqualify a driver if they receive 12 or more penalty points on their licence within a three year period, but this is not automatic, as many people believe.

According to the Government's driving and transport department website bans should last six months if a driver amasses 12 penalty points or more within three years, rising to 12 months if there is a further disqualification and a two year ban thereafter. However courts can exercise their discretion "where it is considered that disqualification would cause exceptional hardship".