Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH – A major research study is under way on the impact of women driving on sustainable development and traffic safety in the Kingdom under the leadership of Dr. Najah Bint Muqbil Al-Qaraawi, associate professor for transport geography and geographic information systems at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University with the support of traffic department experts.

Dr. Al-Qaraawi, who is the dean of community service and sustainable development at the university, said about 30,000 men and women in different parts of the Kingdom have taken part in the study, which began before the ban on women driving in the country was finally lifted on Sunday, June 24. The study is the first of its kind in the world, she added.

“The result of the study will be published shortly,” she said, adding that the study would provide researchers an opportunity to monitor the interim period before and after lifting the ban and document the preparations made by the government to allow women to drive on the Kingdom’s roads and the decision’s impact on the economy, environment and society.

“We intend to focus on traffic safety before and after lifting the ban,” Al-Qaraawi told Al-Madina Arabic daily. “We’ll compare Saudi Arabia with other GCC member countries in terms of women driving and traffic safety,” she said, adding that the study comes when the whole world is waiting to see the impact of women driving in the Kingdom.

“The researchers will monitor the Kingdom’s transformation considering the impact of women driving on boosting social, economic and sustainable development and ensuring road safety,” Al-Qaraawi said.

“June 24, 2018, marks a turning point in the Kingdom’s history and the result of the study will help decision-makers set out strategies and enact new rules and regulations to achieve sustainable development, ensure traffic safety, improve quality of life and cut expenditures," she said.

The study will give new thoughts and ideas on the changing role of women after lifting the driving ban and how they can contribute to achieving sustainable development. “The study will explore how women driving would increase the monthly revenue of Saudi families,” said Al-Qaraawi.

The study will cover various aspects, including the effects of women driving on job creation, spending on transportation, the costs of employing family drivers, foreign remittances by expatriates, fuel consumption, car sales, automobile spare parts, maintenance and insurance and car rentals, she explained.

“The study will explore how women driving will change the global image of Saudi women and their daily life, and improve their education and job opportunities, social relations within and outside the extended family,” she added.

Women empowerment is one of the major thrusts of the study, said Al-Qaraawi, adding that it would examine moral support, social empowerment and mental satisfaction received by women as a result of lifting the ban in addition to solving their transport problems, getting rid of issues created by expat drivers. The study will also deal with environmental issues including sound pollution.