Kottayam woman elated to get Saudi driving licence
Jaikrishnan.Nair@timesgroup.com
Kottayam: 04.07.2018
A 46-year-old Keralite who had moved to Saudi Arabia three years ago has become one of the first few Indian women to obtain a driving licence after the Saudi kingdom lifted its decades-old ban on women drivers.
For Telma Jose, driving is not just a passion but a symbol of freedom. So, when the kingdom issued a notice to grant licence to women from June 24, she joined the queue for her right to drive on June 26, cleared the test and was issued a licence by noon that day.
Telma worked at Norfolk and Norwich university hospitals before joining King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh as a nursing administrator in 2015. In England, she used to drive her own car. So, when she came to Saudi, one of her biggest regrets was that she couldn’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
“In England, I depended on my Mini Cooper to go to places. But in Saudi I felt tied down as I had to depend on taxi every time. After the relaxation in the ban, I applied for a licence and was asked to appear for a test drive on June 26,” she said, adding her passion for driving began in 2009 with her British driving licence.
That licence helped her, as she did not have to write the theory exam and only had to submit a medical certificate with her online application, followed by a test drive for a licence, valid for the next five years. However, Telma still cherishes driving through the streets in England.
“England roads are safer when compared to India and Saudi. The drivers are disciplined, follow traffic rules and signals. In Saudi, speeding is common and a lot of accidents occur daily. We have to be extra careful,” said Telma, who is on a 45-day vacation in Kerala with her family.
FREE TO DRIVE: Telma Jose is among the first Indian women to obtain a driving licence after Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on granting licences to women
Jaikrishnan.Nair@timesgroup.com
Kottayam: 04.07.2018
A 46-year-old Keralite who had moved to Saudi Arabia three years ago has become one of the first few Indian women to obtain a driving licence after the Saudi kingdom lifted its decades-old ban on women drivers.
For Telma Jose, driving is not just a passion but a symbol of freedom. So, when the kingdom issued a notice to grant licence to women from June 24, she joined the queue for her right to drive on June 26, cleared the test and was issued a licence by noon that day.
Telma worked at Norfolk and Norwich university hospitals before joining King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh as a nursing administrator in 2015. In England, she used to drive her own car. So, when she came to Saudi, one of her biggest regrets was that she couldn’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
“In England, I depended on my Mini Cooper to go to places. But in Saudi I felt tied down as I had to depend on taxi every time. After the relaxation in the ban, I applied for a licence and was asked to appear for a test drive on June 26,” she said, adding her passion for driving began in 2009 with her British driving licence.
That licence helped her, as she did not have to write the theory exam and only had to submit a medical certificate with her online application, followed by a test drive for a licence, valid for the next five years. However, Telma still cherishes driving through the streets in England.
“England roads are safer when compared to India and Saudi. The drivers are disciplined, follow traffic rules and signals. In Saudi, speeding is common and a lot of accidents occur daily. We have to be extra careful,” said Telma, who is on a 45-day vacation in Kerala with her family.
FREE TO DRIVE: Telma Jose is among the first Indian women to obtain a driving licence after Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on granting licences to women
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