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Saudi Arabia prepares for women driving on June 24

Saudi driving school
Saudi driving school

By Mubarak Al-Enizi

RIYADH, June 17 (KUNA) -- Saudi women will mark June 24 on their calendars as the date where they are finally become emancipated from the decades-long driving ban.
Back in September of 2017, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud had issued a decree to allow women to drive in the Kingdom; the step had resulted in Saudi authorities preparing for the new situation on the roads and streets.
The Interior Ministry in specific had held meetings to prepare for the remarkable task, opening driving schools for Saudi women in the process and providing training courses to inform the female public on traffic rules.
Saudi women who have already obtained driving licenses in neighboring GCC states and other countries were exempted from the driving test and offered to receive their Saudi card through a process that kick-started back on June fourth.
Women of 18 years of age and above are eligible to obtain private and public driving licenses; however, there is a possibility of issuing temporary driving documents for those who are at age 17. While things are looking bright, Saudi authorities had taken necessary measures to hold women traffic violators accountable for their misbehaviors.
The Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Work and Social Development had agreed to use women care facilities as temporary detention centers for violators. The facilities will be ran and operated by female staff.
Reacting to the new developments, a number of Saudi women said that they were looking forward to drive in their own country.
Speaking to KUNA, Sarah Zamimi said that she had noticed that several advertisements had sprung up throughout the Kingdom offering to training women for their driving tests.
Saudi Universities had held several lectures teaching women how to drive, said Zamimi who indicated that she had registered at a university-supervised driving school.
Finally, women in Saudi Arabia will have a chance to transport themselves to important rendezvous and places rather than waiting for a taxi or chauffeur to drive them to where they want, said Zamimi.
Similarly, Maha Al-Qassem lauded the efforts carried out by several Saudi government and private entities to enable women to drive their vehicles safely.
Al-Qassem affirmed that automotive industry and car companies in Saudi Arabia would thrive during this particular period with many women early awaiting to purchase their own vehicles.
On her part, Nora Ahmad said that she was looking forward for the implementation of the royal decree.
Awareness programs should be provided for all Saudis males and females to address the new situation, said Ahmad who affirmed that women in Saudi Arabia were up to the challenge and prove to the Kingdom and the world that they were up to the challenge. (end) mdm.gta