Are The Saudis Wrong To Ban Women From Getting Behind the Wheel?

Originally posted by TheLordVeack
Women drivers are a danger to pedestrians and themselves.
In a shopping area near my home here in England a shoe shop had a sale and put a banner in the window announcing the prices and the amount of bumps on the main road immediately outside the shoe shop went up dramatically. The thought of cheap shoes and handbags was enough to take their attention off the road and cause accidents. These accidents were minor but what would have happened if someone had wandered out into the road at the same moment a female driver was fantasising about the latest sling back with stileto heel!?
Im not having a go at women, hell, my mother was one, but they are far too easily distracted when they get behind the wheel of a car.

Same can be said for men and sexy billboards or for men leering at women walking down the street.

reply to post by Dr Expired

Snowspirit you should have a sense of humor or else ye will end up barking mad Despite what you may think iam not sexist in the slightest its just I sincerely believe a car should be only used as a necessity as was the horse. Did women ride their horse down to the Local tea shop years ago? No they did not, they walked . That is all iam saying, for our planets sake lets have less cars.

I have a sense of humour. I was told once by a guy that I drive really good for a girl. Funny that he couldn't figure out why us girls in the car left him standing right there on the side of the road. He didn't even realize that was insulting.

When I was 15, was when my dad started to teach me how to drive. Middle of Vancouver, in a 1963 Fleetwood Cadilac, he told me to get into the driver's seat, and said "drive us home, and for gods sake, don't hit anything, you don't have a license yet" No problems. The only accidents that I've been in were : rear ended twice at stop lights, both times by men, and sideswiped twice while completely in my lane, both times by men. That's in 35 years of driving.

I see the bonus of using a vehicle out of necessity only, I go into town once or twice a week, and get everything I need at once.

I just don't understand that some men seem to think that they're in charge of us That position has only been enforced by the beating of women. Which most of us in North America, hopefully don't put up with.

I was born into a world that should have equality by now, thankfully my husband sees me as an equal. He prefers to drive, only because he truly enjoys it. He is a truck driver in the gas fields, and loves it. If for some reason he is tired, he has no problem with me driving, he just puts the seat back and feels comfortable enough to go to sleep.

reply to post by Dr Expired


And why should *we* care? It's not our country and their culture is totally different from ours. So how could we even begin to understand their thinking? I personally feel it's idiocy, let women drive a car, go without a burqa and everything else. But it's not *my* culture or country.

If women want more rights, then it's up to THEM to do something about it.

P.S.
I'm also someone who's strongly against Islam in the West, thought that pertinent to point out.

reply to post by Dr Expired


Well banning women behind the wheel probably isnt the answer. But I would recommend that women don't drive due to the fact that I hear too many stories of bad women drivers. Not that woman can't drive, they sure can, just that women are less mechanical when it comes to break downs, quick decisions on the road, and distractions. The only distractions men have on the road is some blond with her twins hanging out her chest on the sidewalk, and that nice shined up muscle car. But I see too many women drivers putting on makeup, drinking coffee, texting and driving, and even smoking at the SAME TIME. I see men smoking and driving, drinking coffee or on the cell,but not at the same time usually.

Men do much better driving, they cause just as many accidents as I have seen, but men do have a better way of handling the car on the road, and fixing it when its broken and what to do when driving and an emergency pops up on the road like a deer. A woman will be all out of control emotionally if the accident happens, and the male wont be just cause these things happen. The worst thing is to have a women driving down the road and oops some light is flashing on the dash whats that......ohh the car stopped. Get it towed, and thew woman finds out she had no oil, just an example.

Women just want to drive to feel equal with men, and be able to do all the things they want. Fine let the women drive, just warning you, women drivers in my honest opinion and experience are better to stay off the road and let the men do the driving. Dont ban them from driving, that isnt the way to do it. Encourage the women to encourage a man to drive for them.

reply to post by Dr Expired

I appreciate your point of view , but traditionally men rode horses whilst women stayed home and did the home chores, this may sound sexist , but in reality this is how millions of women live their lives still in 2011. But instead of horses men drive cars, yes some women do too, I have to accept this like all men do. I guess Iam thinking of the added pollution that is the result of two car families. If women were honest they would acknowledge most of the time they are driving for frivolous reasons? How many women do you see during the day not working but driving to the hairdressers or shopping mall to drink cofee and such things? Is this adding to the pollution levels? YES. Men drive to work , to earn a living, when they are not working the car stays in the driveway and they walk or cycle to the Bar or Casino ect. Else they catch a cab (electric). I think practically men should own the car keys , just as in the old days men owned the horse reins. You will find most women find driving a chore,and they get flustered very easily,very few women used to ride horses whats different now? Cancer causing carceginonions are killing many, its a hidden hush hush cause of lung cancer and other cancers.

Great answer totally agree.

Are you kidding me, "go shopping all day" "they should stay home and perfect there cooking" i really dislike there ways in that country. you must be from there.

Originally posted by Dr Expired
Whilst it may never happen in the western world, does the idea have merit?
Less pollution , less congestion,less accidents...its perhaps a decision the Saudi rulers will never reverse?

Okay you mysoginistic b@stard here is a better idea, instead of using gender as a guideline require the cubical workers to telecommute.

Who said you were allowed to use the troll road?

Man is wrong for letting any woman drive.

Sorry meant for OP

YES the saudi men are wrong.
And I cant believe that some people here on ATS, people that are supposed to be opened minded, people of so called free thinking nations are actually condonding the saudis men choice to discriminate and oppress their slaves, oop's,,,,, I meant, oppress their wives and all the other saudi women with these laws. .
Anyone condoning this law, are just as small minded and pathetic as the saudi men that your trying to defend.

Maybe they saw this video and decided that it was enough to enact a ban....

I know I would!

OK,

In a study released by Quality Planning, an analytics company that validates policyholder information for auto insurers, women came out on top.

The study analyzed different kinds of vehicle code violations (traffic violations) and then compared how many times men were cited versus women. The conclusion was that men break more traffic laws and drive more dangerously than women. Because they violate laws designed to make the roads safer, men cause more accidents and expensive damage.

Who do you think are better drivers: Men or Women?

"We were not surprised to see that men have slightly more violations — about 5 percent — that result in accidents than women," said Raj Bhat, president of Quality Planning. "And because men are also more likely to violate laws for speeding, passing and yielding, the resulting accidents caused by men lead to more expensive claims than those caused by women."
editorial.autos.msn.com...
Topping the list is the finding that men are cited for reckless driving 3.41 more times than women. Reckless driving is considered one of the most serious traffic offenses by courts since it implies a disregard for the rights and safety of people or property.

Violations for which men scored at least 50 percent higher than women:

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more men than women die each year in motor vehicle crashes. "Men take more risks behind the wheel than women, and so men are more likely to get into serious crashes," says Anne McCartt, the institute's senior vice president of research. "We don't have any way of comparing their driving abilities, but on the likelihood of getting into a serious crash in which someone dies, men win handily."

Is this a fracking joke? Seriously? Sorry I don't have a ton of substantive stuff to add to the debate, but I thought we kind of dealt with issues like this in the 1920's-1950's.

reply to post by Stormdancer777

In a study released by Quality Planning, an analytics company that validates policyholder information for auto insurers, women came out on top. The study analyzed different kinds of vehicle code violations (traffic violations) and then compared how many times men were cited versus women. The conclusion was that men break more traffic laws and drive more dangerously than women. Because they violate laws designed to make the roads safer, men cause more accidents and expensive damage. Who do you think are better drivers: Men or Women? "We were not surprised to see that men have slightly more violations — about 5 percent — that result in accidents than women," said Raj Bhat, president of Quality Planning. "And because men are also more likely to violate laws for speeding, passing and yielding, the resulting accidents caused by men lead to more expensive claims than those caused by women." editorial.autos.msn.com... Topping the list is the finding that men are cited for reckless driving 3.41 more times than women. Reckless driving is considered one of the most serious traffic offenses by courts since it implies a disregard for the rights and safety of people or property. Violations for which men scored at least 50 percent higher than women: According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more men than women die each year in motor vehicle crashes. "Men take more risks behind the wheel than women, and so men are more likely to get into serious crashes," says Anne McCartt, the institute's senior vice president of research. "We don't have any way of comparing their driving abilities, but on the likelihood of getting into a serious crash in which someone dies, men win handily."

Just one question, on a total of all the drivers on the road, what is the percentage of drivers that are men and what are women? Just curious......more male drivers = more male accidents, just that simple.


Just an example, 20,000 male drivers on the road in the city, and 10,000 female drivers in the same city for a total of 30,000 drivers. The statistics would probably show that men would have more accidents, and have more men than women drive recklessly......out of an average of the total.

Oh wait thats exactly what the statistics said.... my point to get across is there more male drivers or female drivers on the road?

Women being allowed to drive would open a can of worms for the males in that country.

At the moment women are not allowed to go out without a male gaurdian who has to be a family member, this would obviously put paid to that.

As a female I do feel concerned about the restrictions on basic human rights Saudi women face. There country is known as the 'worlds largest female prison.

The capabilities of being a good driver has nothing to do with gender,

Originally posted by TimeCrisis
Man is wrong for letting any woman drive.

What is this "letting" crap?

Man is not the boss of women :shk:

Women need to start walking away from this type of man.
They are not necessary in our lives.

reply to post by Seektruthalways1


According to this document: Distribution of Licensed Drivers - 2009 by Sex and Percentage in Each Age Group and Relation to Population from the FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) there were actually more female drivers than males in the US.

____________________________________________________________________________

I just have to say that I cannot believe some of the opinions I have read on this thread. Of course I think it's wrong that Saudi women aren't "allowed" to drive. But, I do find that I don't agree with much of what Saudi women are not "allowed" or "made" to do.

I am a stay at home mom. I, however, do not get to go tooling around in my car (which I bought, not my husband) willy nilly...I don't have time. With two kids who have an abundance of extra-curricular activities, well, let's just say I am their "taxi service" But this is of my own choosing. If my husband tried to "own my car keys", he might be drawing back a nub!

Just my final thoughts on the OP post, not one person who has replied had anything to say about the Saudi Woman saying she wanted to drive to "avoid problems with taxi drivers who are "FOREIGN MEN" .

To me this is the most offensive aspect of this story and it perhaps tells me that many nations are so racist against foreigners that it would make the National Front look like United Nations advocates.

But some get so wrapped up in the small picture of having a car to themselves to drive, they overlook the real issue , rampant racism that tears the world apart, this interview was on Al Jazzera, yesterday morning, Ihave quoted the woman with the racist Bigoted words as accurately as my memory alows me.

To any woman reading this replace the word men with women how would it sound?

Not forgetting the disgusting foreign slur.

reply to post by Dr Expired

well, one thing is for sure, ain't no saudi women getting into a cab driven by any man (unless he's a relative of hers) without a male relative escourt, so well....dont' know what to tell ya there...
as for me, taxi's cost somewhere around $7-$10 a pop I believe where I am at, so, well, I don't care if it's St. Peter driving the thing....if they decided to take my license from me based purely on my gender.....well, taking a taxi would be below walking to work on my list of solutions. and I ain't walking anywhere.....

Originally posted by Juggalette


I just have to say that I cannot believe some of the opinions I have read on this thread. Of course I think it's wrong that Saudi women aren't "allowed" to drive. .

Yes, me too. Its funny to go to a site in which so many people claim to have an open mind, and then to see people actually condoning the idea that human beings should be able to control other human beings in such a way. They probably complain about secret societies oppressing humanity, but then go and condone the oppression of half of humanity, because they are the ones that get to do the oppressing.

When they overlook the evidence that suggests women are involved in less accidents, I just assume that they haven't received a lot of respect in their lives, and need a way to make themseles feel better, by putting others down.

Originally posted by Juggalette
If my husband tried to "own my car keys", he might be drawing back a nub!

Originally posted by Dr Expired
With women banned from driving they are less likely to go shopping all day, and have more time to do the housework?

They will have more time to perfect their cooking skills?
Whilst it may never happen in the western world, does the idea have merit?
Less pollution , less congestion,less accidents...its perhaps a decision the Saudi rulers will never reverse?

WOW!

The views and thoughts some men on here have about women makes me wonder and worry.

Seriously? Women should be able to drive too. It is independence to go and do what you want, the men can and you know they do so why not the women? If the women can't drive there those men have even MORE control on their women. They can't pack the car up and leave, they can't have friends. It's about control.