Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Saudi women have started to learn skills of motor driving in various universities across the Kingdom, as several universities have obtained license from traffic police to operate driving schools for women.

It is worth mentioning that aspirant women require attending compulsory training courses to apply for driving license. Fort this, universities are ideal venues.

A significant number of women have been expressing their desire to learn driving not only in larger cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah but also cities such as Jazan and Tabuk. More than 73,000 women are eager to learn driving in Princess Nourah University in Riyadh, the first female driving training institution in the Kingdom, alone.

Though formal driving for learners on the road has to start yet, imparting basic skills of driving and to also know about the vehicle have already begun.

Simulators are being used as cars to impart training to women. Technical information, besides safety and traffic rules and regulations, is also being given to them in their orientation programs.

The latest orientation-cum-workshop held for women in Jazan received overwhelming response from aspirant women drivers.

The program was held with the collaboration of traffic police at Jazan University recently.

“We have received an overwhelming response from women who attended the event,” Prof. Aisha Bint Hasan Zakri, secretary for student affairs at Jazan University, said in a statement.

The traffic police explained the rules and regulation of road safety and driving and university’s nursing department provided first aid tips in case of accidents while engineering faculty of the university explained the functioning of engine and other spare parts of the car, she said.

Prof. Aisha added that university also helped women to have an idea about various models of vehicles available in the market.

Several banks and leading automobile companies are also lining up to support women drivers through various initiatives.