The issue of the women driving is amusingly one of the hot topics in Saudi Arabia. And of course, as a Saudi woman who was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, I sadly lack this basic skill practiced by billions around the world, which is driving.
I feel that driving is something just beyond my ability. For me, driving a train, a truck, a plane or even a spaceship is a skill that needs exceptional ability that I lack for sure. Please come on, I am in my 30s and I’ve driven all my life. When I moved to the UK, I told myself enough is enough, I have to learn, I need to face my fears and start to learn how to drive.
I looked over the Internet and found a reputable driving school and then got myself enrolled there.
On the first day, I got into the car with the instructor who gave me a brief lecture as to how to operate a car. He also told me that the passenger seat is fitted with a brake and also fitted with extra mirrors so the instructor could see everything.
I listened to him and was relaxed and assured that I won’t be driving the car today or even after 10 lessons.
We started the journey and he was explaining to me how the car works and what do several signs on the road mean. We then pulled on to a nice country road nearly empty except for a few other cars mostly driven by learners. All of a sudden he pulled over the car and asked me to change seats and take the driving seat.
I was dumbstruck, what? Is he really asking me to drive? Is this guy even qualified enough to train people? How can he let this happen? How could he expect me to drive this complicated machine just half an hour after I began the first driving lesson of my life?
I just looked at him with eyes wide open. Trying to keep my composure and almost stammering, I said: “Sir, this is my first lesson; I don’t think I can drive.”
He maintained his professional attitude and told me, “of course you cannot drive alone and that’s what I am here for, to supervise you.”
I then felt trapped, I tried to weigh my options, option one: To run away. It seemed very tempting but I looked around and I realized that I didn’t know the area and I would just run and run and could not even phone a taxi because I didn’t know the area. “Hi! Taxi please come and pick me up, I am in the middle of nowhere trying to escape from driving the car.” Not tempting at all. Option 2: Play mad. It was also tempting and will for sure save me from driving, but the instructor might call the officials instead to drive me safely back home. Option 3: Drive the car and face whatever happens. Well, what worse could happen? Crash?
Then that would be the instructor’s responsibility and if I died I will be shaheeda (martyr) I then recited the shahada and moved on to the driver’s seat. I started the adventure, I am sure I caused the instructor a heart attack. I was driving and feeling that everyone on the street is trying to target me, all oncoming cars are trying to crash on me and all following cars will hit me eventually, the worst happened when I saw a mother pushing a pram and I applied brakes and the car came to a screeching halt even though they were far away from me, I just felt that I would hit them and cause a tragedy. The instructor was very patient though. I heaved a sigh of relief when the lesson was over and I amusingly discovered that after all, it was not hard at all. As I remained tense all the time, my whole body was aching. I was told by the instructor that driving in the UK is all about abiding by rules.
Well truth of the matter is that I still have not acquired my license and still receiving training necessary to drive this machine.
@ HatoonKadi
