A 90-year-old woman died after mistaking the brake and gas in the accident.

A 90-year-old woman, who did not give up driving despite her family’s concerns, died in a traffic accident because she confused the brake and accelerator pedals.

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

Cornwall deputy coroner Emma Hillson said Ms Nias had “experienced a number of minor incidents prior to this collision”.

Ms Hillson said she had given a report to the transport secretary on preventing future deaths, which was sent when the coroner felt action was needed to protect lives.

The inquest heard Ms Nias was driving downhill on the A39 dual carriageway in the automatic car she had owned for six years.

Approaching a roundabout on a road with a speed limit of 80km/h, he entered the outside lane before exiting the roundabout and crashed into a lamppost.

The hearing was told it was a dry day, there were no other vehicles involved and there was no fault with his car.

The coroner said: “It is clear from the evidence that family members expressed concerns to Ms Nias about her ability to continue driving as she had experienced a number of minor incidents prior to this collision.”

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

The coroner said the Devon and Cornwall Police area saw 221 fatal collisions, 3,145 serious collisions and 15,868 minor injury deaths between 2019 and 2023.

Ms Hillson said 28 fatal crashes involved people aged 70 and over, while 310 were serious incidents and 1,058 were minor crashes.

He added that 14 of the deaths were people aged 70 and over, 132 of 310 people were seriously injured and 604 were slightly injured.

Ms Hillson has written to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Secretary of State for Transport demanding action is taken to prevent future deaths and said she wants a response to any proposed action within 56 days.

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

“Drivers over the age of 70 must apply for a new license every three years and there is no need for any medical check or assessment to confirm fitness to drive.

“The applicant must make his own declaration.”