Drivers know that women in the Kingdom depend on them for transportation and so they demand exorbitant fares. Inset, left: Drivers also try to befriend their women passengers and send them messages on “Whatsapp.” — Okaz photos
Zain Anbar
Okaz/Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Women who rely on taxis, limousines, or what is known as “on call” drivers, are faced with myriad problems when dealing with them.
Wafa Mohammad, a private sector employee, said that there are always deductions from her monthly salary, because she arrives late for work. The reason, she said, is that the driver with whom she agreed to transport her to work is often late, as he is transporting other women to their work, and he has a full schedule.
She said that after a long argument with the driver, she began searching for another driver only to find out that they also have full schedules.
She finally resorts to limousine drivers who at first agree to be paid at the end of the month.
However, a few days later, they ask for their money claiming that they are leaving Jeddah.
Haniyah Khalid, a private sector employee, said that single employed women are not allowed to be issued a driver visa. This increases their problems with transportation and life in general.
She said that she sometimes deals with more than five drivers a year.
A driver will complain that she lives far away, and another driver would ask for more money.
When she refuses, they simply say that there are other working women who would pay up to SR 2,200 a month for transportation.
Abrar Mohammad, a government employee, said that she has agreed with a driver to drive her children to school, and drive her to work for six months. He began hinting to her that he wishes to be married, but she paid no attention to him.
One day she received a call from the driver’s mother expressing her son’s wish to marry her.
However, she refused and said that she is not considering marriage and she wanted to only raise her children. After which, she began hunting for another driver.
Huda Abdulrahman, a private sector employee, complains of drivers greed.
After agreeing with a driver for a fare and using a driver for a while, he asks for an increase in the fare.
She also complained of some drivers who harass women on the phone, forcing them to change their numbers.
Nawal Ziyad, a private sector employee, said that some drivers use “Whatsapp” to harass her.
She receives messages from unknown numbers, and she later discovers that it was a driver behind these messages.
Khukood Abdulfattah, an employee, said that after a driver became punctual and drove her to work on time, he asked for more money.
He invented stories that his mother was ill, and presented her with medical reports as proof.
He asked her for a SR 2,000 loan and said that she could deduct from his monthly fare.
However, he later changed his mobile number and never showed up.
Areej Khalid, a private sector employee, said that after using a driver for a while, he began discussing and participating in private family calls she makes or receives while in the car. She refrained from such calls so he could not use such conversations to his benefit.
Hebah Mohammad, a university student, said that she has to rely on a driver because her father cannot leave work to drive her.
After a while, the driver started to arrive late, and asked for more money. He also asked many questions regarding the university and her father’s work.
Laila Abdullah, an employee, said that drivers increase their fares during holidays, claiming that they are losing money due to traffic congestion, because they cannot make as many trips as before.
Abeer Ahmad, an employee, said that a driver asked her to transfer his sponsorship to her husband.
As he was punctual and committed to his work, her husband transferred the driver’s sponsorship to his name. However, he later simply fled away.
Tahani Mohammad, an employee, said that she prefers such drivers over regular limousine drivers, as she can pretend to have a private driver in front of her colleagues.
