Failed foreign drivers let loose on UK roads – loophole warning issued | UK | News
Kusemi had failed her driving test six times (Image: undefined)
A coroner has raised serious concerns about a loophole allowing foreign drivers to remain on British roads without L-plates after a man who twice failed his driving test in the UK killed a pensioner in a crash.
Timothy Kusemi had only a provisional license when he caused the death of 70-year-old Susan Whittles at a rural junction in East Yorkshire on November 24, 2023, an inquest has heard.
The case sparked questions about why overseas drivers were allowed to continue driving unsupervised despite repeatedly failing their tests; These regulations do not apply to unaccompanied British students.
Kusemi, a Nigerian national, had twice failed his driving test in the UK before the fatal crash but was still completely lawful behind the wheel.
Following Ms Whittles’ death, he failed four more times and eventually passed away on March 21, 2025 – two years and six months after he became resident in the UK.
Susan Whittles passed away in March (Image: undefined)
Coroner Lorraine Harris said it was “indicated”. [Kusemi] Despite these failures, he continued to exceed the 12-month limit on his national licence”.
Under government guidance, nationals of countries whose driving standards are not considered equivalent to those in the UK, including Nigeria, are allowed to drive for up to a year after residence while obtaining a British licence.
But Ms Harris warned that the system created a glaring inequality with students in the UK who must be supervised and display L plates at all times. The Preventing Future Deaths report stated: “Nationals of unspecified countries who fail a UK driving test are not treated in the same way as a resident of Great Britain who fails a UK driving test.”
He added: “A resident of Great Britain is not allowed to drive without proper supervision and must display their L-plate when driving as a warning to other vehicles of their inexperience.”
The coroner stressed that foreign nationals could fail “any number” of tests in their first year while continuing to drive in the UK.
This, he said, meant they could remain on the roads “even if they do not meet the safety standards set by the DVSA”.
Ms Harris warned the situation “has the potential to cause a risk of serious injury or harm to other road users”.
He also expressed concern that “there does not appear to be any provision for an examiner to revoke a person’s ability to drive without appropriate supervision despite not meeting the required standards”.
Kusemi, 41, of Lower Bedford Road, London, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving on February 23.
He was sentenced to six years in prison and banned from driving for 11 years.
Following the case, Ms Harris wrote to the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) calling on them to review the rules.
The Ministry of Transport must respond to the report by May 26. A spokesman said: “Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts are with Susan’s family and loved ones.
“We will carefully review the coroner’s findings in this tragic case to determine whether changes are needed.”
