Coroner Urges UK Reform of Foreign Driver Rules After Fatal Crash

A coroner has urged the UK government to reform driving license rules for foreign nationals after a Nigerian man, who failed his British practical driving test twice, caused a fatal crash in East Yorkshire that killed a 70-year-old woman.

The incident occurred on November 24, 2023, near the village of Rudston, close to Bridlington, when Timothy Kusemi, then 41 and residing in Romford, Essex, failed to stop at a crossroads on the B1253 at the junction of Thwing Road and Burton Road. Driving a grey Audi A6, Kusemi collided with a red Volkswagen T-Roc driven by Susan Whittles, who died at the scene despite emergency services' efforts. Her husband, Bill Whittles, a passenger in the vehicle, suffered serious injuries including fractures to his spine, ribs, and sternum, as well as head and facial trauma, but survived.

Kusemi had arrived in the UK in September 2022 with a valid Nigerian driving license, which permitted him to drive on UK roads for up to 12 months while obtaining a British license. Under current regulations, nationals from countries whose driving standards are not considered equivalent to the UK's, such as Nigeria, China, India, Israel, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the...