Yesterday, Oct. 26, a number of Saudi women got behind the wheel and took to the streets in defiance of a ban on women driving in the kingdom. Apparently female driving isn’t expressly against traffic law; however, religious edicts have been interpreted to mean that women are not allowed to operate a vehicle (or anything with wheels, as I understand it, including bicycles, skateboards, etc.). One cleric ruled that driving could damage a woman’s ovaries. Others have decreed that breaking the ban will spread "licentiousness."

We didn’t personally see any women in the driver’s seat, but we weren’t out of the DQ until evening, when there were numerous police checkpoints everywhere, backing up traffic for long distances. Our driver would slow down, open the window and let them see who he was, i.e., a man, and was then allowed to pass through. This CNN report gives a good explanation and rundown of the day along with an informative video clip http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/26/world/meast/saudi-arabia-women-drivers/ This NYT piece is also excellent http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/world/middleeast/a-mostly-quiet-effort-to-put-saudi-women-in-drivers-seats.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131027&_r=0 For a parody on the situation, this has gone viral http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZMbTFNp4wI

According to people who currently do and who have lived here, driving in the kingdom can be a frightening and dangerous experience as other motorists often don't follow any kind of traffic rules. Accidents and fatalities are common, with 24.8 deaths per 100,000 people, according to data taken from the World Health Organization's 2013 global status report on road safety. (By comparison, the US registered 10.4 deaths per 100,000 people, the UK 2.75, Japan 5.2, Eritrea 48.4.) I have already seen what I would consider at best careless and at worst reckless driving on the highways, so really, constant vigilance for the other guy and defensive driving are critical.