Renad Ghanem

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Teenage drivers are responsible for a large amount of car accidents in the Kingdom, said motorists.



Some families who cannot afford drivers have no option but to allow their children to drive, even though they  are underage and breaking the law and do not have a license to drive.



Often underage kids are seen on the streets, barely able to see over the steering wheel.



With very limited experience on how to deal with surprises on the road, teenage drivers are at great risk of getting involved in a car accident and causing death.



Families of teenage drivers have been criticized for allowing their children behind the steering wheel, even in emergency cases.



Some families restrict their children to driving inside the neighborhood and do not let them on the major roads.



Muhammad Ali, a father of six living in Jeddah, was forced to allow his 16 years old son to drive in Madinah because his family was living there.



The Saudi traffic law allows people to get a temporary permit to drive at 17.



He said: “My son was old enough to drive my family in Madinah when I am away. My son was only allowed to drive my wife and his sister back and from school.



“Recently, he was involved in a car accident when he smashed into the back of a Lexus at an intersection. No one was hurt but the damage to the car was great."



Ali's son was detained at a police station until his father arrived and bailed him out. He told police that he had no choice but to allow his son to drive since he was living in another city and he could not afford to get a driver.



The case was settled outside the police station when he paid over SR3,000. He was also forced to sign a letter at the police station promising his son would not drive again.



He said: "I have no choice but to still allow my son to drive, hoping he would not have an accident until he is 17 and can get his permit."



Abdulrahman Muhsin, a 45-year-old Egyptian accountant at a private company, said that his 16-year-old son was driving was involved in a accident that left a 5-year-old girl disabled. He said: “I used to allow my son drive the car across the neighborhood. “Unfortunately it was an irresponsible decision.”



He said his son was driving very fast in a side street in the neighborhood. “He lost control when a girl crossing the street stepped out in front of him. He could not avoid the girl and he ran over her, causing her serious bone injuries in the hips and a broken back.



“The girl was disabled and not able to walk because of my son. It was my fault to let him drive. I suffered a lot paying financial compensations to the girl's family to prevent my son from going to jail," he said.



Ayman Muhammed, a Saudi, said a 15-year-old boy racing with another teenager on the road ran through a red light and crashed into his car.



“My car was totally damaged and I was lucky to be alive. The boy was arrested for driving without a license, running through a red light and driving with an expired license.



“My car was damaged beyond repair. I put the full blame on the family for allowing their kids to play with the car.”