MOTORISTS have been warned of the potentially horrific impact of driving too fast in bad weather after the death of a woman in a series of crashes on the A40.

At an inquest yesterday into Debbie Blood’s death Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter said the overriding factor in the December 28 crash was ‘driving at an inappropriate speed in poor weather conditions’.

Campaigners said Ms Blood’s death from multiple injuries highlighted the need for drivers to take extra care on the road in bad conditions.

The 54-year-old from Gloucester was on her way to Bicester Village as the front-seat passenger in a white Peugeot Partner driven by her partner Shane Giles when it smashed into the back of a lorry on the road’s eastbound carriageway near Witney.

The lorry had stopped in the road due to heavy traffic following a crash further ahead.

There were collisions involving about 20 vehicles along a 1km stretch of road at about 8.30am.

Witnesses to the crash that killed Ms Blood described conditions as ‘very treacherous’ with a ‘slippy road surface’ and said visibility was down to 10m at some points.

Recording a conclusion of death by road traffic collision Mr Salter said: “The overriding factor was driving at an inappropriate speed in poor weather conditions.

“Having said that, I have some sympathy with drivers in these awful conditions.

“They were confronted with banks of dense fog coming in.

“But nonetheless the Highway Code is as it is.”

The inquest heard the road had been gritted by contractors Skanska on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council the night before when temperatures were forecast to plunge below freezing.

Mr Salter said: “I do not think it is reasonable to say the highways authority can prevent any ice at all from forming.”

But the coroner did say he was ‘slightly concerned’ about the role of fog in the crash and would write to the county council to ask the authority if it could be included in the ‘decision matrix’ for gritting.

Speaking after the inquest, Witney Oxford Transport Group spokesman Maurizio Fantato said: “It was a tragic accident that shocked a lot of people.

“It seems to me that pretty much most of the accidents that happen are because people have not really followed the Highway Code and are driving too fast with too little distance between cars.

“I have sympathy with the people involved but people should pay more attention in very bad weather.”

In a statement read to the Oxford Coroner’s Court Ms Blood’s partner Mr Giles described how visibility dropped to about 50m and then deteriorated further.

He said: “It was like a wall of fog suddenly appeared in front of me.”

Mr Giles braked but was unable to avoid crashing into the lorry’s trailer.

Collision investigator Kevin Spiller told the inquest temperatures were well below freezing and there were patches of freezing fog.

But he reiterated that in his view the ‘overriding factor’ was drivers travelling at ‘inappropriate speeds’ Speaking after the inquest, Witney mayor Chris Holliday said: “You do get localised fog patches around Witney because of the rivers. Drivers should take more responsibility and watch their speed, but anything that can flag up awareness of hazards cannot be a bad thing.

“Fog warning signs are certainly worth looking at.”

Ms Blood, who was born in Woolwich, worked for AXA insurance and had previously been employed by the Land Registry.

A previous marriage ended in divorce and she had been in a relationship with Mr Giles for two-and-a-half years.

County council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “We wish to offer sincere condolences to the family of Ms Blood at this difficult time.

“We are satisfied that the A40 was appropriately salted prior to this tragic incident.  “The council will continue to ensure the implementation of the nationally approved guidance in respect of our highway services.

“The coroner indicated that he would be writing to the UK Roads Board – the body who write the national guidance – and the council and should any changes be made we will take those on board as part of our own local policy.”