Job Discussion Forums

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

Veiled and Nomad,
Your optimism is commendable...however, this is the Magic Kingdom where Murphy's Law is on steroids. Eventually they will work out all the kinks but there are still lots of kooks with religious authority in KSA that will make it difficult.
I hope it is a smooth transition...but then again, I know better, after seeing so many of the reforms get axed because the close-minded, backwards thinking Saudis could not handle the change. It is what it is....yes, they will come around to making it work. They have no choice but to progress. They will just take a lot longer because logical, rational, and reasonable are still khawajas in KSA.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Grendal · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:17 pm Post subject:

The drivers of all these women that begin to drive will have to go back to Bangladesh. That frees up the mother to drive the children to school. more female drivers but still the same congestion.

enjoy
Grendal

hash · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 456 Location: Wadi Jinn

voyagerksa · Joined: 29 Apr 2015 Posts: 140

The drivers of all these women that begin to drive will have to go back to Kerala India, or Pakistan.

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

yawn ... honestly, who cares ... they drive or don't drive ... what difference does it make to an expat english teacher ... unless you are a female and you are prepared to drive to some of the several exciting destinations in this country among a bunch of locals who drive like monkeys jacked up on red bull and a bunch of villagers who only ever drove a donkey before they came to the ksa and sat behind wheels ... eventually in 2147 they will announce that finally women above 65 can drive on main roads of urban areas between 10am and 4pm under the supervision of a male guardian, but this will not be announced in washington ... same old tricks, nothing new .. appease the international community with legislation, appease the local community with lack of enforcement ... although this time economic pressure may actually force them to make concessions as impoverished saudi families (1) can't afford drivers and (2) need second incomes from women (who need to get to work but can't afford drivers) ... they have been dishing out freebies to locals every since the so-called arab spring (more like arab fall) started ... ahhh there is strength in numbers, the al-sauds may be 15,000 but the so-called 'saudis' are 20,000,000 ... policies of appeasement my friends policies of appeasement ... give the masses just enough so that they don't overrun us ... gain another day

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

Women's rights and women getting a little closer to having more freedom...is always a good thing.
Yes, they have a long way to go.....but it's better than nothing.

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

Gulezar · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 483

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

That student was right. Rich people do not come to KSA as migrant workers.

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

In the heat of the moment · Joined: 22 May 2015 Posts: 393 Location: Italy

I read that Saudi families hire over a million drivers, and not having access to their driver (because he's taking her younger siblings to school/uni or taking the mother somewhere) is stopping many young Saudi women working. With this change the young Saudi female can get to work. Suddenly the family is 80,000SAR/yr better off (18k for the driver & 62k for the extra income). Or more, if there are more daughters of working age. A young family which can't afford a driver, so mum stays home during the day, might afford a second car if she has a low income.

As to safety, read up on how safe male drivers are compared to female drivers, in any country in the world. It's been proved that women drivers are safer in the UK, US, Oz, NZ, India, etc etc. Take a million male drivers off the roads and replace with female, and watch the accident rates plummet. It's statistically almost certain Saudi roads will be safer. Personally I'd feel safer on roads with mixed sex drivers.

As to women being at risk? They've got central locking and phones. I expect most will obey the speed limits, not drive powerful cars because of their poor, ickle fragile egos, and just enjoy the freedom of going to a cafe with their sisters. I expect some men will be aggravated by that, and I've certainly been on the stinky end of road rage in Riyadh so I know some are c%%ts behind the wheel. Maybe women will choose to have cameras forward and aft on their cars, or only drive accompanied by a female friend/male relative, or not drive. Or maybe Saudi's roads will be as safe/unsafe as those in Oman, the UAE, Kuwait etc.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

In terms of safety against physical assault, I believe dads and husbands will refuse to let female family members drive solo across the desert. The women would agree.

I think it would be great if a "ladies' taxi" service is eventually established in the kingdom. It was refreshing to ride in these taxis in the UAE; I could freely chat with the female drivers.