Bridget Driscoll was killed by a motor car in the grounds of the Crystal Palace on 17 August 1896. She became the first recorded pedestrian in Britain to die after being struck by a car.

Driscoll, who lived in Croydon, was visiting Crystal Palace with her teenage daughter and a friend. Motor cars from the Anglo-French Motor Carriage Company were being demonstrated on the grounds and used to give rides.

One of the cars was driven by Arthur James Edsall. He later told the inquest that he had been driving motor cars for about three weeks. He said he was travelling at about four miles an hour when he saw people ahead, rang his bell and shouted a warning.

Witnesses disagreed about the speed. One described the car as travelling at a reckless pace and compared it with a fire engine. Other evidence suggested that the vehicle, which had been restricted for the demonstration rides, could not travel much faster than four miles an hour.

Driscoll was struck by the car and suffered a fatal head injury.

The inquest had to consider an accident involving a machine that was still unfamiliar on British roads. Edsall was questioned about his experience and how he handled the car. He said nobody had told him whether he should drive on the right or the left.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Driscoll’s death came before motor traffic had become an ordinary part of British life. The questions raised at her inquest about speed, warnings, driver experience and road position would soon become routine concerns as the number of cars increased.