Saudi women to drive family taxis soon

The authority›s special chart organizing the activities of the family taxis is aimed at further enhancing the transport services being extended especially to women and children, the Dammam-based Al-Yum newspaper has reported.

According to the chart, the family cabs must be owned by an establishment, which is authorized to transport families within city limits.

The chart, which was published by the official Um Al-Qura newspaper, makes it imperative that the drivers should be qualified Saudi women who have valid category A driving licenses.

The drivers should be free of any contagious diseases, should not be drug addicts, should have no criminal records and should have passed all the training sessions organized by the authority.

According to the chart, the passengers should consist of at least one adult female. The male passengers and children should sit in the back seat and should not be left alone in the car.

The establishment involved in the family transport activity should have a fleet of 10 vehicles at least, the car should not be more than five years old and should have a minimum of seven seats including the driver›s seat.

The car should also have cold and warm air conditioning system and should also be supplied with GPS navigation.

It should also have a screen projecting all the required data such as the driver›s name, the name of the establishment with all its contact numbers and the plate number. The car should have a spare tire and should be clean from inside and outside.