Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The implementation of the Royal decree allowing women to drive is still eight months away, yet social media is flooded with advertisements from driving instructors offering to teach women how to drive cars.

Advertisements are appearing on social media despite warning by the Traffic Department that women will not be allowed to drive before June 2018.

“Giving driving lessons on the streets and public places is forbidden for both men and women,” according to Traffic Department spokesman Col. Tariq Al-Rubaian.

He said a special committee is studying the modalities to implement the Royal decree.

The rules and regulations for issuing driving licenses to women are still being drafted, he added.

However, a driving instructor told local daily Al-Watan on Tuesday that he was offering driving lessons to woman for SR40 an hour.

The instructor said he will provide cars to those who don’t own vehicles.

“We will first assess if a woman has any knowledge or driving experience before formulating a special teaching program for her,” he said.

“Teaching program includes training on the skills of safe driving, how to avoid reckless drivers on the streets and the risks on the road,” he said.

He said women will be taught traffic rules and regulations, how to deal with common car faults, and lessons in first.

Some women recently took to the wheels flouting traffic rules.

A woman trainee died in Riyadh when she ran into a cement barrier. Her husband, who was accompanying her, was seriously injured.

Another woman on Huda Al-Sham road between Makkah and Jeddah seriously injured herself when she hit a truck while driving her car.

A young Jordanian companion lost his life in the accident.