How would you implement Saudi women's driving?

We haven't seen any articles recently about the issue of Saudi women driving in the world press. For a while there were almost weekly stories about the issue, now nothing. In the quiet between bursts of news, why not think positive and try to visualize the actual process of women getting permission to drive.

OK, imagine you've been given the job of implementing a new law permitting women to drive. So how would you do it? Instead of thinking about how many obstacles you'll face, all the conservative males who will be in an uproar, just concentrate on how to implement the new law.

Obviously, no one has asked me, but this is how I'd do it if I were put in charge.

1. Open a driving school for women in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam; and hire and train a staff of women to teach there. The women teachers could be Saudi women who have international drivers licenses and pass a driving test. The schools would be on the outskirts of the city and would have practice streets where the women could get used to driving, parking, etc.

2. Design a driving test, written and practical, to be administered to ALL young drivers, not just women. For women, the test would be given on-site at the schools. Perhaps in this way, young men can be trained to be respectful and responsible drivers.

3. When the driving schools are up and running, permit advanced women student drivers to be on the roads with their instructors in marked cars.

4. As women pass their driving exams, give them their licenses and voila, slowly, they will appear on the roads. And hopefully, it will turn out to be a smooth transition.

There has been talk about limiting the times of day when women can drive, and also the ages of women drivers. If I were in charge, I would not restrict such things. Each individual family can be as careful as they like.

The YouTube Video That Could Change Everything

In March of 2008, some women in Saudi Arabia made a
YouTube video, in Arabic. Nothing new about that, but
it was revolutionary in that it was footage of a
Saudi woman named Wajeha al-Huwaidar driving.
While driving, she asks, in very eloquent Arabic,
for the authorities to permit Saudi women to drive.
They made the video in conjunction with
International Women's Day, 2008.
You can view the video in its entirety here, with English subtitles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8GiTnb33wE&feature=related

She has not suffered any repercussions from speaking out on this video.

Maybe this is the year.....?

Here is a link to a story from al-Arabiya.net that quotes a government official that the ban on women's driving is expected to be lifted this year.

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/01/25/64986.html

First Post ----- New Beginning

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim.
In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Well, here goes.

Women all over the world, and indeed people all over the world, support the idea of Saudi women gaining the legal right to drive because it is simple common sense.

I haven't found any websites about this issue, though yes2womendriving has a presence on Facebook.

God willing, this blog will help inform concerned people about the issues and news related to driving.

I believe that one day, Saudi women will gain the right to drive. And what an amazing day that will be. Until then, hopefully this will be a useful tool to help people learn about the issue.

I only want good to come from this blog.