抖阴短视频

JEDDAH: Saudi women preparing to drive in the Kingdom for the first time on Sunday might be surprised to learn that some have taken to the road already.

At institutes such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Saudi Aramco, women have been issued driver鈥檚 permits by the special zone鈥檚 driving school. 

Dr. Aala Abulfaraj, 37, drives at KAUST, where she is a research scientist in molecular biology and immunology, and an assistant professor in King Abdul Aziz University鈥檚 bioscience department. 

Abulfaraj said the driving environment at KAUST is similar to that of European countries or the US.

鈥淓veryone has to follow the rules and they are strict 鈥� and because most people there are cycling, walking or using golf carts, everyone has to take care, especially children because some kids cycle to school.鈥�

KAUST uses a measuring system for violations, Abulfaraj explained. 鈥淭he traffic rules are very serious. It鈥檚 a points-based system. For example, using your phone while driving is three points. If you don鈥檛 stop at the stop sign, it鈥檚 eight points. If you reach 19 points, they will take your driver鈥檚 license away for three months and you will be prohibited from even cycling.鈥�

Safety is KAUST鈥檚 main priority, she said. 鈥淎 traffic police officer and an officer from the safety department are present during the driving test,鈥� she told Arab News. 鈥淭he traffic police officer observes; even if you turned correctly, but it鈥檚 not safe, they won鈥檛 give you the permit.鈥�

Abulfaraj said in the past when a woman鈥檚 only role was as a housewife, there was no need to drive. 鈥淏ut the number of employed women has increased significantly and now we鈥檙e equal to men in everything. We are independent, we are studying the same subjects as men, getting jobs in the same field 鈥� and driving is important.鈥�

Driving is 鈥渙ne of the new life requirements in 抖阴短视频,鈥� she said.

Abulfaraj advised younger women to pay attention to safety and avoid being distracted by the 鈥渆xciting new opportunity.鈥� 

鈥淒riving is something that the whole world is doing; we were the only ones who weren鈥檛 allowed to. I know it鈥檚 exciting, but women have to remember that it鈥檚 a responsibility. Your life is in your hands.鈥� 

Abulfaraj learned to drive while studying in the US from 2008 till 2011. 鈥淚t was exciting. I鈥檓 a mother of two, so when I鈥檓 driving, I get scared because I have my daughters with me.

鈥淩esponsibility makes a person more careful,鈥� she said. 

Gehan Saied Al-Abbasi, 50, an Egyptian freelance CAD engineer, also drives at KAUST.

Driving there is 鈥減eaceful and safe鈥� with no traffic, crowds or rush hours, and the maximum speed limit is 60 km an hour,鈥� she said.

鈥淚n KAUST, all people know their rights. They are fully aware of the driving laws. Everything is well organized. Stop signs are everywhere and crosswalks; security cars and cameras are everywhere.鈥�

The engineer said she is pleased about the new decree allowing women to drive. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good decision. Women have the right to be independent and strong.鈥�

Female drivers should be encouraged, Al-Abbasi said. 鈥淚 want to tell them not to panic from any inconvenience in the street and to be confident 鈥� you can do it.鈥� 

Al-Abbasi obtained her driver鈥檚 license in Egypt and is exchanging her Egyptian license for a Saudi one. 

鈥淚 used to drive in Egypt from 1986 until now,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a good experience. I feel independent.鈥� 

Another special institute driver is 28-year-old Saudi Sara Al-Uraifi, who works in public relations at Aramco in Dhahran.

She praises Aramco鈥檚 safe driving environment. 鈥淒riving there is so peaceful. It is quiet, away from traffic or crazy, loud drivers. Small roads, no highways and low speed,鈥� she told Arab News.

Al-Uraifi said Aramco鈥檚 traffic rules are also strict. 鈥淎ny violation will affect the employee鈥檚 evaluation and future career.鈥� 

Driving will empower women, Al-Uraifi said. 鈥淚t is a start to a new approach in the Kingdom, giving women equal chances and treatment.鈥� 

She advised women to be cautious. 鈥淒on鈥檛 get too excited and start driving from day one. Take it slowly. The Kingdom is not yet ready for women to go on the road. There are a lot of crazy drivers on the road that don鈥檛 follow the rules and their mentality won鈥檛 change immediately.鈥� 

Al-Uraifi will exchange her Bahrain license for a Saudi one and plans to drive 鈥渁t some point.鈥�

鈥淚n the beginning I will start driving only in nearby areas, avoiding traffic and peak hours till things get stable,鈥� she said.