A 90-year-old woman died in an accident after mistaking the brake for the gas pedal

An inquest concluded that a 90-year-old woman, who refused to give up driving despite her family’s concerns, died in a road accident after confusing the brake and accelerator pedals.

Dorothy Nias, from Cornwall, died in November 2023 after a crash in Devoran in June before suffering multiple injuries, a hearing in Truro was told.

Cornwall’s deputy coroner, Emma Hillson, said Ms Nias had “had a few minor incidents” before the collision.

Hillson said she had presented the Prevention of Future Deaths report to the transport minister, which is sent when the coroner determines action is needed to protect life.

During the investigation, it was established that Ms Nias was driving down the hill on the A39 dual carriageway in a car with an automatic transmission, which she had owned for six years.

As she approached a roundabout on a road with a speed limit of 80 km/h, she veered into the outer lane before entering the roundabout and hitting a lamp post.

At the hearing she was told it was a dry day, no other vehicles were involved and her car had no faults.

The coroner said: “It was clear from the evidence that family members expressed concerns to Ms Nias about her ability to continue driving after a number of minor accidents had occurred prior to the collision.”

Ms Hillson said Ms Nias was urged to use alternative transport but was independent and chose to continue driving.

The coroner said that between 2019 and 2023, there were 221 fatal collisions, 3,145 serious collisions and 15,868 people with minor injuries in the Devon and Cornwall Police area.

Hillson found that 28 fatal collisions involved a person aged 70 or over, 310 were serious and 1,058 were minor.

She added that 14 of the deaths were in people aged 70 or older, as were 132 of the 310 serious injuries and 604 with minor injuries.

Ms Hillson has written to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Secretary of State for Transport asking for action to prevent future deaths, and also stated that she needs a response within 56 days to any proposed action, which should be taken.

She wrote: “There is currently no upper age limit for drivers.

“Drivers over the age of 70 are required to apply for a new driving license every three years and there is no requirement for any medical tests or assessments to prove fitness to drive.

“The applicant must submit a self-declaration.”