Starting Sunday, Saudi Arabian women can legally drive.
06-21-18, 06:33 PM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Starting Sunday, Saudi Arabian women can legally drive.
I wasn't sure whether to post this in Clubhouse/Debate, since it is obviously political, or Car Chat, since it will obviously involve a lot of cars as well. Mods...you can do with it as you see fit.
Starting this Sunday, June 24, Saudi Arabian women, who have been officially forbidden to drive for over a century (ever since the car was invented) will finally get their chance. Although the state has relented in a few isolated cases, here and there, that got a lot of publicity, women were basically not allowed to drive...their husbands or sons usually did the driving, assuming that the family had a vehicle at all. The Saudis, up to now, were arguably the only nation on Earth that did not allow females to drive...IMO a major embarrassment on their part, even for a conservative, Muslim-dominated society.
Being able to legally drive is not the only benefit Saudi women will enjoy starting Sunday.....the country is well-known for having some of the cheapest gasoline in the world; perhaps second only to Venezuela, where the psuedo-Communist government actually subsidizes most of the oil industry. But some Saudi women have found driving courses to be unaffordable....that still is a roadblock. Still, Saudi gas prices make even those here in the U.S. (which themselves are far less than in Europe or Japan) look expensive. That's just one reason (among several) why the gas-guzzling, truck-based Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus LX, and GX are so popular there.
So, ladies, welcome to the world behind the wheel. Enjoy it.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/...125918326.html
by Arwa Ibrahim
10 hours ago
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud signed a royal decree in September 2017 that said women would be allowed to drive [AP]
ban on women driving on June 24.
In just three days, the kingdom, which has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, will see women driving like their male counterparts for the first time.
In preparation for this historic event, Saudi Arabia launched on Thursday a three-day campaign called "place your trust in God and drive" to encourage female motorists and raise awareness about driving techniques and safety regulations.
In a
on Twitter, the ministry of information announced that educational events would be held in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Tabuk over the next three days to "introduce women to road safety regulations and help break the barrier of fear".
The events will depend on electronic simulators, educational stations and competitions to help "familiarise women with the techniques of using a car," the statement said.
The ministry hopes the activities it has set up will help "instill the principle of safety first" and "showcase [to female motorists] the importance of using seat belts", according to the statement.WATCH:
Leaflets shared online said the planned activities also aim to teach women how to park, while social media users shared
of female-only parking spaces around the kingdom.
Using a hashtag bearing the same name as the campaign, social media users shared tips for female drivers including advice on how to avoid having an accident or endangering pedestrians and other drivers.
The long-awaited decision to allow women to drive was first announced last year, as part of the then newly-appointed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plans to reform the socially conservative country.
In a reversal of the long-standing rule, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud signed a royal decree in September 2017 that said women would be allowed to drive "in accordance with Islamic laws".
Prior to the royal order, Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world that did not allow women to drive.
According to Arab writer and analyst Hana al-Khamri, the government's launching of this campaign is a good initiative, and is not the first of its kind.
"There have been many campaigns launched by the government, some which were organised by female driving schools," said al-Khamri.
"It's also been interesting to see billboards [across the kingdom] about driving, now including messages that target women by using female pronouns instead of only male."
Referring to previous campaigns, al-Khamri said that while they were generally useful, "some messages indirectly reflect an entrenched patriarchal society, that women are looked down upon and that there is a reluctance that women will drive."
Al-Khamri, who previously worked as a journalist at a local newspaper in Saudi Arabia, also said that although the move is being celebrated, other considerations need to be taken into account.
"The move may contribute towards breaking social norms, but many women simply can't afford to drive.
"There is a high unemployment rate among women in the country. Many have reported that driving courses cost six times more than those for their male counterparts."
"I honestly don't think society is ready for this decision. People still worry about the recklessness of male drivers. What will happen when women start to drive," said a 28-year-old Saudi woman, who did not wish to be named.
While Omar, a businessman in Jeddah, agreed that "people are scared about their mothers and sisters driving and potentially getting harassed", he believes the move is a step in the right direction.
"My mother and sister have already issued their licenses, but driving [in Saudi Arabia] is a little wild. Adding women to mix will be worrying, especially for the first few months."
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia started issuing driving licenses to women, with ten Saudi women swapping their foreign licenses with national ones at the General Department of Traffic. The ministry of information said at the time that it expected about 2,000 licenses to be issued in the coming weeks.
But the arrest last month of a number of women's rights activists - who staunchly advocated for the right to drive - has dampened the mood among observers and citizens alike and cast doubt over Riyadh's commitment to effecting change as part of its much-touted Vision 2030.
"June 24 will be a historic moment for women in Saudi Arabia but it will also be a sad day because the people who have been fighting for it for decades won't be able to witness it," al-Khamri said.
The activists were branded threats to national security and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Starting this Sunday, June 24, Saudi Arabian women, who have been officially forbidden to drive for over a century (ever since the car was invented) will finally get their chance. Although the state has relented in a few isolated cases, here and there, that got a lot of publicity, women were basically not allowed to drive...their husbands or sons usually did the driving, assuming that the family had a vehicle at all. The Saudis, up to now, were arguably the only nation on Earth that did not allow females to drive...IMO a major embarrassment on their part, even for a conservative, Muslim-dominated society.
Being able to legally drive is not the only benefit Saudi women will enjoy starting Sunday.....the country is well-known for having some of the cheapest gasoline in the world; perhaps second only to Venezuela, where the psuedo-Communist government actually subsidizes most of the oil industry. But some Saudi women have found driving courses to be unaffordable....that still is a roadblock. Still, Saudi gas prices make even those here in the U.S. (which themselves are far less than in Europe or Japan) look expensive. That's just one reason (among several) why the gas-guzzling, truck-based Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus LX, and GX are so popular there.
So, ladies, welcome to the world behind the wheel. Enjoy it.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/...125918326.html
Saudi launches awareness campaign before female motorists drive
Three-day campaign dubbed 'place your trust in God and drive' aims to educate women on driving and safety regulations.by Arwa Ibrahim
10 hours ago
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud signed a royal decree in September 2017 that said women would be allowed to drive [AP]MORE ON SAUDI ARABIA
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ban on women driving on June 24.
In just three days, the kingdom, which has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, will see women driving like their male counterparts for the first time.
In preparation for this historic event, Saudi Arabia launched on Thursday a three-day campaign called "place your trust in God and drive" to encourage female motorists and raise awareness about driving techniques and safety regulations.
In a
The events will depend on electronic simulators, educational stations and competitions to help "familiarise women with the techniques of using a car," the statement said.
The ministry hopes the activities it has set up will help "instill the principle of safety first" and "showcase [to female motorists] the importance of using seat belts", according to the statement.WATCH:
Leaflets shared online said the planned activities also aim to teach women how to park, while social media users shared
Using a hashtag bearing the same name as the campaign, social media users shared tips for female drivers including advice on how to avoid having an accident or endangering pedestrians and other drivers.
The long-awaited decision to allow women to drive was first announced last year, as part of the then newly-appointed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plans to reform the socially conservative country.
In a reversal of the long-standing rule, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud signed a royal decree in September 2017 that said women would be allowed to drive "in accordance with Islamic laws".
Prior to the royal order, Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world that did not allow women to drive.
According to Arab writer and analyst Hana al-Khamri, the government's launching of this campaign is a good initiative, and is not the first of its kind.
"There have been many campaigns launched by the government, some which were organised by female driving schools," said al-Khamri.
"It's also been interesting to see billboards [across the kingdom] about driving, now including messages that target women by using female pronouns instead of only male."
Referring to previous campaigns, al-Khamri said that while they were generally useful, "some messages indirectly reflect an entrenched patriarchal society, that women are looked down upon and that there is a reluctance that women will drive."
Al-Khamri, who previously worked as a journalist at a local newspaper in Saudi Arabia, also said that although the move is being celebrated, other considerations need to be taken into account.
"The move may contribute towards breaking social norms, but many women simply can't afford to drive.
"There is a high unemployment rate among women in the country. Many have reported that driving courses cost six times more than those for their male counterparts."
Fear and scepticism
Mixed sentiments have flooded social media and public discussion in Saudi cities ahead of Sunday's lifting of the ban. While many Saudi men and women are excited and enthusiastic about the move, others are worried about its impacts."I honestly don't think society is ready for this decision. People still worry about the recklessness of male drivers. What will happen when women start to drive," said a 28-year-old Saudi woman, who did not wish to be named.
While Omar, a businessman in Jeddah, agreed that "people are scared about their mothers and sisters driving and potentially getting harassed", he believes the move is a step in the right direction.
"My mother and sister have already issued their licenses, but driving [in Saudi Arabia] is a little wild. Adding women to mix will be worrying, especially for the first few months."
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia started issuing driving licenses to women, with ten Saudi women swapping their foreign licenses with national ones at the General Department of Traffic. The ministry of information said at the time that it expected about 2,000 licenses to be issued in the coming weeks.
But the arrest last month of a number of women's rights activists - who staunchly advocated for the right to drive - has dampened the mood among observers and citizens alike and cast doubt over Riyadh's commitment to effecting change as part of its much-touted Vision 2030.
"June 24 will be a historic moment for women in Saudi Arabia but it will also be a sad day because the people who have been fighting for it for decades won't be able to witness it," al-Khamri said.
The activists were branded threats to national security and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Last edited by mmarshall; 06-21-18 at 07:03 PM.
06-21-18, 08:03 PM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Yes, I agree. More Saudi women may (?) actually find it easier to get back and forth to a place of employment if they don't have to rely on walking/bicycles, public transportation, or male family members to drive them. That could increase the percentage of the female work force.
06-22-18, 09:56 AM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I may be wrong, but I don't think that Christian churches, as we know them, are permitted in the country....only Muslim mosques. Remember, this is a strictly Islamic society, without Western-style freedom of religion.
And, even if there are still some restrictions left, it is a huge step forward for Saudi women. Not being legally able to drive, at least IMO, was an embarrassment to the country's regime. And the Saudi regime, today, needs more international respect than it used to have, if for no other reason, than its economy......it no longer controls half of the world's crude-oil-reserves like it once did under OPEC, and cannot dictate prices any more.
And, even if there are still some restrictions left, it is a huge step forward for Saudi women. Not being legally able to drive, at least IMO, was an embarrassment to the country's regime. And the Saudi regime, today, needs more international respect than it used to have, if for no other reason, than its economy......it no longer controls half of the world's crude-oil-reserves like it once did under OPEC, and cannot dictate prices any more.
06-22-18, 04:32 PM
#6
Lexus Test Driver
Trending Topics
06-25-18, 10:43 PM
#8
Since we are talking about Saudis and women, Seth McFarlane is the king of satire, but I hate to say this, its all damn true, even it if it comes off as satire. Well the driving without a ***** thing was true when this was made, so maybe there is progress on the Arabian peninsula.
06-26-18, 12:39 AM
#9
It's about damn time. Unfortunately it's not going to change the cultural stigma against women driving overnight and the advocates for this still being in jail facing long sentences for their efforts is horrible. Yet... as of two days ago... Saudi women can now legally drive cars. Giving women back the right to their own mobility and control of travel is huge. Even if a family member or husband denies them permission to travel somewhere... many will have a car and keys.
As much as I'd love to focus on how the joy of driving is part of this (and I'm sure it is for some or many women) it represents so much more than that for them.
And also, there's this slice of awesome: a woman Saudi Formula One driver.
https://jalopnik.com/aseel-al-hamad-...sau-1827086893
As much as I'd love to focus on how the joy of driving is part of this (and I'm sure it is for some or many women) it represents so much more than that for them.
And also, there's this slice of awesome: a woman Saudi Formula One driver.
https://jalopnik.com/aseel-al-hamad-...sau-1827086893
Last edited by KahnBB6; 06-26-18 at 12:45 AM.
06-27-18, 06:17 AM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Hey, never mind Saudi Arabia...before we point fingers at that country, enough of those multi-vehicle pile-ups happen right here in the U.S., particularly in fog or bad weather. Many people either drive too fast for conditions, tailgate, follow too closely. or, for whatever reason, simply cannot stop in time.
07-05-18, 09:28 AM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
xBROKER - please exit this thread.
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