This is my plea for being allowed to drive — a bus! Yes, I’m dead serious; and no, I’m not trivializing an issue, which is so close to my heart that I honestly pray I’m granted this blessing before I reach retirement age. Are we asking for too much? Maybe if we toned down our request just a little we could succeed in getting authorities to take into consideration at least a part of our appeal — like finding a solution for commuting to and from work. Gone are the days of affordable private taxi drivers; still it would be unrealistic to believe that every household could sponsor a driver and have him drop schoolchildren and mothers at two or three different places located in opposite directions all before 7 a.m. It’s frustrating not to be able to get to work on time or to go to the bank/hospital or to visit relatives without having to meticulously schedule the time of day and route to be taken with male family members to avoid a clash with an important business meeting or a football match.

Perhaps it isn’t just us women who should be calling for a change; instead I believe it’s the men who should join us in appealing for official support on this undertaking. After all, they are part of the reason (we are told) we cannot drive for “society is not ready” for women drivers. Then there’s an oft repeated concern — what would a woman do if her car broke down? I have always believed that some troubleshooting skills are taught in driving school; but suppose they aren’t — I could call my family or the car repair service for help. On-the-road car repair services are offered in many countries; in fact they would even open up job opportunities!

If all else fails, I could catch a cab home. Perhaps the most logical justification given to us to defend the “social ban” on women driving is the likelihood of overcrowding in the streets, which would be the outcome of more cars — a valid concern. However, this is purely based on the absurd assumption that if women were allowed to drive there would be one new car for every woman driver. I believe women can efficiently run errands in the same family car parked in the garage at this moment. And to get to work, we could carpool — but would this reduce the possibility of traffic jams, you might ask? As I pondered this, inspiration struck — what if we were to take cars out of the picture? What if some of us just got bus permits instead? There would definitely be far less traffic on the streets if more of us were packed liked sardines in a vehicle not driven by a non-mahram, but by a woman! I for one would have no problem driving all the ladies in my neighborhood to and from work everyday.

On a serious note, all we want is to be allowed to drive, even if it were under certain minor restrictions, for it can mean the difference between life and death in the event of a medical emergency. Strengthened by the support of the three women members of the Shoura Council who have lent credence to this cause, I appeal to the authorities to grant us the privilege that women around the world take for granted — the freedom to go shopping without being hounded by grumbling brothers! — Sabrina, Riyadh