Susan Whittles: Prevention of future deaths report
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Date of report: 1/4/2026
Ref: 2026-0191
Deceased name: Susan Whittles
Coroner name: Lorraine Harris
Coroner Area: East Riding and Hull
Category: Road (Highways Safety) related deaths
This report is being sent to: Department for Transport | Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
| REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS | |
|---|---|
| THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: UK Secretary of State for Transport DVSA – [REDACTED], Head of Regulatory Services, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency | |
| 1 | CORONER I am Miss Lorraine HARRIS, the Area Coroner for the coroner area of East Riding of Yorkshire and City of Kingston Upon Hull. |
| 2 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 |
| 3 | INVESTIGATION On 29th November 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of Susan Jane WHITTLES, aged 70 years. The investigation has not yet concluded, an inquest has not been heard. However, a criminal prosecution took place. On Friday 24th November 2023 at 1500 hours a road traffic collision occurred at the B1253 crossroad junction of Thwing Road and Burton Road near Rudston in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Two vehicles were involved in the collision, a grey Audi A6 VRM [REDACTED]AC driven by [REDCATED] and a red Volkswagen T-Roc VRM [REDACTED]driven by Mrs Susan Jane WHITTLES. [REDACTED] failed to give way at the crossroads and subsequently collided with the offside of Mrs WHITTLES vehicle which had right of way. As a consequence of the collision, Mrs WHITTLES sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Mrs WHITTLES’ husband, [REDACTED], who was a front seat passenger was trapped in the vehicle and seriously injured. On 10th June 2025 [REDACTED] originally pleaded guilty to causing the death of Mrs WHITTLES whilst unlicensed and uninsured, he pleaded not guilty to the charges of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving and the matter was set down for trial. At that stage he was given an interim disqualification. Subsequently, on 23rd February 2026 [REDCATED] pleaded guilty to causing the death of Mrs WHITTLES by dangerous driving, causing serious injury to her husband [REDACTED] by dangerous driving and causing the death of Mrs WHITTLES whilst unlicensed. [REDACTED] was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment and an 11 year driving ban (with extended re-test required). [REDACTED] is a Nigerian national who came to the UK to live on 15th September 2022. At that time [REDACTED] held a current Nigerian driving licence which was valid in Great Britain for 12 months from the date he entered the country and became resident (15th September 2022 until 14th September 2023). The DVLA issued [REDACTED] a provisional GB licence on 27th June 2023, and to ensure continuous driving he was required to pass a GB driving test before 14th September 2023. [REDACTED] failed to do this and at the time of the fatal collision on 24th November 2023, was a provisional GB licence holder only. Records held by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) showed [REDACTED] took and passed his theory test on 13th July 2023. However, DVSA records show [REDACTED] failed his practical driving test 6 times (17/07/2023, 18/09/2023, 14/12/2023, 02/01/2024, 25/01/2024 and 04/03/2025) before passing on 21st March 2025. While driving on his national licence, [REDACTED] failed his GB practical driving test twice before the fatal collision, then a further 4 times after the fatal collision. It is also noted that he continued to drive beyond the 12 month limit on his national licence despite those failures. |
| 4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH As stated above, on Friday 24th November 2023 at 1500 hours a road traffic collision occurred at the B1253 crossroad junction of Thwing Road and Burton Road near Rudston in the East Riding Of Yorkshire. Two vehicles were involved in the collision, a grey Audi A6 VRM [REDACTED] driven by [REDACTED] and a red Volkswagen T- Roc VRM [REDACTED] driven by Mrs Susan Jane WHITTLES. [REDACTED] failed to give way at the crossroads and subsequently collided with the offside of Mrs WHITTLES vehicle which had right of way. As a consequence of the collision Mrs WHITTLES sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Mrs WHITTLE’s husband, [REDACTED] who was a front seat passenger was trapped in the vehicle and seriously injured. |
| 5 | CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. – The DVSA recognise that some countries driving/test standards are equivalent to those of Great Britain and therefore their citizens can drive on GB roads. Non-designated countries are not recognised as such, and nationals of those countries are expected to take a GB driving test within 12 months of being within Great Britain. Nationals 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. A 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. If a national of a non-designated country fails any number of driving tests within the 12 month period they are still able to revert and rely on their 12 month limit to drive on their foreign/international licence in the UK, despite not meeting the safety standards set by the DVSA. There appears no provision for an examiner to withdraw the ability to drive without appropriate supervision despite a person’s failure to meet the required standards. 12 months ability to drive for those who do not meet required standards have the potential to cause a risk of serious injury or harm to other road users. |
| 6 | ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion urgent action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you AND/OR your organisation have the power to take such action. |
| 7 | YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by Tuesday 26th May 2026. I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed |
| 8 | COPIES and PUBLICATION I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons: -The family of Susan Jane WHITTLES I have also sent it to the following who may find it useful or of interest: – His Honour Judge [REDACTED], Hull Crown Court – PC [REDACATED], Humberside Police, Serious Collision Unit – [REDACTED], CPS – Prosecuting Barrister I am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. |
| 9 | [DATE] [SIGNED BY CORONER] [REDACTED] 1st April 2026 |