![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEC_292562515-e86c.jpg\")
\n\t\tTimothy\u00a0Kusemi, a Nigerian national,\u00a0had a provisional licence when he caused the death of Susan Whittles, 70
(Picture: MEN MEDIA)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tTimothy\u00a0Kusemi, a Nigerian national,\u00a0had a provisional licence when he caused the death of Susan Whittles, 70
(Picture: MEN MEDIA)<\/p>\n
A man who only had a provisional licence and failed his test twice hit and killed a pensioner after a loophole allowed him to drive on the roads alone. <\/p>\n
Timothy\u00a0Kusemi, a Nigerian national,\u00a0had a provisional licence when he caused the death of Susan Whittles, 70, at a rural junction near Bridlington in East Yorkshire on November 24, 2023, an inquest heard.<\/p>\n
But a coroner has warned foreign drivers are allowed to drive unsupervised, which British learners are forbidden from doing. <\/p>\n
Kusemi, a Nigerian national, had already failed his British driving test twice before the fatal smash \u2013 but was still legally allowed behind the wheel.<\/p>\n
He went on to fail a further four times after Ms Whittles\u2019 death before finally passing on March 21, 2025 \u2013 two years and six months after becoming a UK resident.<\/p>\n
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Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n Paying tribute to his wife, Bill Whittles, who suffered multiple fractures to his spine, ribs, and sternum and injuries to his head and face, said: \u2018Sue was a lovely wife to me and best pal over the years \u2013 we were a unit.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018She was a much-loved Nan to Anna and Oliver, and they miss her so much.<\/p>\n \u2018A much-respected local Preacher, Guide Leader and active supporter of Riding for the Disabled<\/a> \u2013 what an awful waste!\u2019<\/p>\n Coroner Lorraine Harris said it was \u2018noted that he [Kusemi] continued to drive beyond the 12-month limit on his national licence despite those failures\u2019.<\/p>\n Government<\/a> guidance allows people from countries where driving standards are not considered equivalent to the UK, including Nigeria, to drive for up to a year after becoming a resident while they obtain a British licence.<\/p>\n But Ms Harris warned the system creates a stark contrast with UK learners, who must be supervised and display L plates.<\/p>\n In a Prevention of Future Deaths report, she said: \u2018Nationals of non-designated countries who fail a GB driving test are not treated in the same way as a GB resident who fails a GB driving test.\u2019<\/p>\n She added: \u2018A GB resident is not allowed to drive without appropriate supervision and when they are driving they must display L plates to act as a warning to other vehicles of their inexperience.\u2019 <\/p>\n The coroner added that foreign nationals can fail \u2018any number\u2019 of tests within their first year in the UK and still continue driving.<\/p>\n \t\t It means they can stay on the roads \u2018despite not meeting the safety standards set by the DVSA<\/a>\u2019, she said.<\/p>\n Ms Harris warned the situation has \u2018the potential to cause a risk of serious injury or harm to other road users\u2019.<\/p>\n She also raised concern there \u2018appears no provision for an examiner to withdraw the ability to drive without appropriate supervision despite a person\u2019s failure to meet the required standards\u2019.<\/p>\n Kusemi, then 41, of Lower Bedford Road, London<\/a>, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving on February 23.<\/p>\n He was jailed for six years and banned from driving for 11 years.<\/p>\n Following the case, Ms Harris has written to the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) urging them to review the rules.<\/p>\n The Department for Transport must respond to the report by May 26.<\/p>\n A spokesperson said: \u2018Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and our thoughts are with Susan\u2019s family and loved ones.<\/p>\n \u2018We will carefully review the coroner\u2019s findings from this tragic case to determine whether changes may be required.\u2019<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_289295944-b89b-e1775760543253.jpg\")
\n\t\tSusan Whittles, 70, was killed while driving in rural Yorkshire (Picture: MEN Media)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_289295896-db2b.jpg\")
\n\t\tKusemi, a Nigerian national, had already failed his British driving test twice before the fatal smash \u2013 but was still legally allowed behind the wheel (Picture: MEN Media)<\/p>\n
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