A historic day for every Saudi woman
It is finally here after years of debate, argument, refusal, campaigns. It feels surreal. What an exciting day! Women can start driving cars and other vehicles with a Saudi driving license issued by the Saudi traffic authorities.
Women started applying for a license or signing up for driving lessons in mid-May, as soon as the authorities announced the process. The response was huge. Appointments had to be canceled and rescheduled because of the unexpectedly large number of women signing up.
Thankfully — and much appreciated — the process was pretty smooth, and officials at the motor vehicles department and the driving schools set up in girls’ universities were generally supportive, polite and helpful, although the fees at the driving schools for women are high compared with those for men, which poses a problem for women with limited incomes.
The excitement of seeing the first women obtain their licenses was beyond description. The women I know described being elated, unbelieving and happy beyond what they had expected to feel. Many can’t believe it happened in their lifetime. They remember the first time they got a license and drove a car, not in Saudi Arabia, and to finally have a driving license from their own country is exhilarating and empowering.
Little signs of the change coming made the fact sink in gradually and prepare society for the day: Car advertisements for women and media campaigns showed women checking cars and explaining everything they need to know about driving, cars, and traffic laws; street billboards on road safety addressed male and female drivers; hiring female police officers at the traffic department; passing anti-harassment laws, a necessity not only in the streets but also at the workplace and all public places; allocating parking space for female employees.
All these steps and the encouragement and support from the authorities and society give confidence and comfort to women that the time is right.
Women in general are good drivers because they tend to follow rules and regulations more than men; according to insurance statistics, they cause fewer accidents.
Maha Akeel
Of course, there were those who were sarcastic and tried to make fun of women driving. The fact is, though, that women in general are good drivers because they tend to follow rules and regulations more than men; according to insurance statistics, they cause fewer accidents. Women by nature drive more safely because usually they are the ones who take the kids to school.
There will be lots of pressure on women, and scrutiny of any mishaps and accidents in their first weeks or months on the road, just to question whether they deserved the license; but it is not an issue of deserving, or a woman having to prove her skills — it is her right and her choice, and as long as she passed the driving exams she should be treated in the same way as a man. Our experience with male drivers has not been ideal, so we shouldn’t expect that from women.
Aside from the media hype about this day, women driving is a significant achievement because of the freedom, independence and equality it symbolizes. There is still more to be achieved toward women’s rights as independent, equal citizens, and we hope driving is the first milestone.
Some had argued that driving is only a luxury for women, and the downsides outweigh the benefits. True, some women may take up driving only for fun, or even prefer not to drive, but the majority will drive to go to university or work, or take the kids to school or go shopping or run errands or for an emergency — whatever purpose people all around the world drive their cars, including just to cruise around and meet friends. As for the benefits, they include fewer foreign drivers, less economic burden on families, and less traffic congestion. It will be easier for women to go to work, and less costly, as they won’t need to spend a chunk of their salary on transport or drivers. This will lead to more women in the labor force, which is in line with Vision 2030 and will boost economic growth. Socially, just having fewer foreign drivers — even none at all — as part of our households and society is a good thing.
However, to make the experience more enjoyable for both female and male drivers, there should be more parking spaces in the streets, tougher implementation of traffic laws and campaigns to encourage more polite and respectful behavior in the streets.
By the way, in case you are wondering, my appointment for my driving license is in a few days. I have waited so long for this day, a few more days feels so long.
Thank you to all the women and men who made this happen. Thank you, King Salman. Thank you, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
• Maha Akeel is a Saudi writer. Twitter: @MahaAkeel1
