Excerpts:Women car drivers -- someday.Terrible car drivers 26 December 2005

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 26 Dec.'05:
"Women Driving a Family Issue, Says Sultan" Somayya Jabarti, Arab News -
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"emphasized the government's readiness to open the way for women driving
once they get consent from their families"
" 'When fathers, husbands and brothers as us for women to drive we will
look into it, but if they ask us the opposite we can't force them (to let
women drive)' "
" 'I believe strongly in the rights of women ,' the king had said"
" 'How many times has the prospect of women driving been dangled before
our eyes getting our hopes up with no actual development?' "
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:

JEDDAH, 26 December 2005 - Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister
of defense and aviation, yesterday emphasized the government's readiness to
open the way for women driving once they get consent from their families.
"When fathers, husbands and brothers ask us for women to drive we will look
into it, but if they ask us the opposite we can't force them (to let women
drive)," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the crown prince as saying. In a
previous statement, ... King Abdullah had said that Saudi women would be
permitted to drive someday.
[IMRA: How will fathers husbands and brothers tell the government to let
women drive?]
"I believe strongly in the rights of women," the king had said in his first
television interview since acceding to the throne on Aug. 1.
"I believe the day will come when women will drive. I believe it will be
possible and I believe patience is a virtue," the king had told Barbara
Walters of ABC News. However, he had said he would not impose it against the
will of his people by issuing a royal decree.
. . .
But many Saudis oppose women driving as they fear that it would bring more
chaos and confusion to the already messed up Saudi streets by reckless male
drivers.
Retired STC employee and businessman Abdulhadi Al-Qasem, whose wife and
daughters are fully educated and employed, said he would be the last person
to allow them to drive until the Kingdom's streets are clear of reckless
drivers and callous youth or anyone violating traffic rules. He also called
for regulations to protect women drivers.
. . .
Dr. Firas Adel, a Saudi surgeon at a private medical center, said women
driving would force authorities to tighten security on streets with better
standard of traffic order. "Maybe if men knew that their mothers, wives,
daughters or sisters were out there in the streets, they'd be more cautious
about how they behave."
"Women in cars with drivers aren't spared the harassment of men, I can't
imagine what's going to happen once the women are on their own in their
vehicles. How are they going to feel safe on the streets?" Adel asked.
Rowa Al-Saleh, a graduate medical student, expressed her doubts whether
women would be allowed to drive in the Kingdom.
"How many times has the prospect of women driving in Saudi Arabia been
dangled before our eyes getting our hopes up with no actual development?
... .alam Mohammad, training to be a pilot, said that women's driving is no
longer optional but compulsory. "Financially recruiting and employing a
driver is costly and my mind would be more at rest knowing that the wheels
are in my wife's hands instead of some stranger who is not a professional
driver. And one day when I have daughters I'd rather they are completely
independent women than be at the mercy of some man who might abuse his
guardianship over them," he said. . . .

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 12 Dec.'05:"Bringing Order to Our Streets"
Hamoud Al-Gathami . Al-Madinah -
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"I have never seen driving habits in other countries that resemble our
perilous habits."
"Drivers create their own laws."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
We in Saudi Arabia have unique ways; one of these is the way we drive. I
have never seen driving habits in other countries that resemble our perilous
habits. We have drivers that rocket through traffic, swerving haphazardly
from one lane to another like a bunch of snakes. There is no explanation for
this. Suffice to say it is merely a way of putting other people's lives in
danger.
This is an old problem in our streets, ... . We have lost many lives
because of this, yet police do nothing to solve this problem. ... .
... we have young drivers intentionally violating traffic laws. These youth
are challenging society by not respecting traffic laws.
. . .
Drivers create their own laws. We see them speeding very close to the cars
in front of them. And should the car in front hit the breaks for any reason,
the result is chaos - too late for the driver behind to avoid a collision.
... ..
Another traffic law ignored by police is running red lights. ... There isn't
a street in Jeddah free of life-threatening violations. If police were
serious about enforcing traffic laws through tough punishment then we would
see order in the street. If police seized cars for traffic violations then
drivers would fear breaking the law. ... .

Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA