Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Saudi women have complained against driving schools exploiting their desire to learn how to drive and are demanding high prices for the training.

The Princess Nourah University Driving School offers a 30-hour training program for SR2,400 taxes not included.

The school broke down its pricing according to the following scheme: eight hours of theory is SR600, the theory test is SR75, simulation sessions for two hours for SR150, the practical training hours are 20 hours in total and are SR1,500 and the practical test is SR75. The total amount reaches SR2,400 before taxes and SR2,520 with taxes.

The university offers a 6-hour training program for those who wish to renew a foreign license.

Al-Jazy Saud said she wanted to learn how to drive but she was shocked at the high prices for training.

Ameera Al-Ghamdi said there is discrimination in the prices set by driving schools for women and driving schools for men.

“The fees for driving schools for men barely exceed SR400. Why do we have to pay over SR2,000. Driving schools are exploiting our desire to drive. I think there should be a supervising authority that unifies the fees of driving schools,” said Al-Ghamdi.

Ghuzwa Al-Otaibi said she learned how to drive when she was still a minor.

“I learned how to dive in Jordan. My mother was one of the first women to get her driving license in Jordan and she taught me how to drive when I was little. I got my driving license in Jordan when I reached the legal age and began driving my siblings to school,” said Al-Otaibi.

She added she drove in the US, in Jordan and now she is hoping to be driving in the Kingdom.

“Driving in different parts of the world always throws up unique and individual experiences. I drove over the speed limit in Jordan by the borders but they forgave me after knowing I was Saudi. It was also hard to understand the road signs in New York but I got used to them after a while,” said Al-Otaibi.

She added driving to her was never a luxury but a necessity and she is happy to witness the changes for women in her country.