CAIRO - Many Egyptian men and women complain about each other's driving, especially in Cairo, where the traffic is so heavy. They accuse each other of being unprofessional and unqualified, but women come in for more criticism than men. "Some women can drive but most of them have little training and don't know how to drive," Mona Mohamed, 26, a housewife, says, adding, however, that driving has become essential for women nowadays. "This is why I'm going to have driving lessons." Sayyed Mohamed, a teacher, says that a woman is the partner of a man, helping her husband in everything. "My wife learnt to drive, as I work long hours, which means she has to collect our children form school," he explains. Many people, like Mohamed Ali, 36, a teacher, are not against women driving cars. “But what happens when they run into a problem in the street?" he asks. Many Egyptians think that driving is a man's job, as it needs much concentration; but some women have to drive because of their children. "In a male-dominated society, many men and women think it inadvisable for women to drive, especially in the provinces," Alaa Sharabi, 25, a journalist, told The Egyptian Gazette over the phone. "Some women drive microbuses after the death of their husbands. If they stay at home, how can they bring up their children?" she asked. “I always stay in the correct lane and stick to the speed limit, but many men drive too fast and have accidents. Men often bother me when I'm driving." "Why should n't women drive?" Mohamed Abul Magd, 35, a tour guide, wonders. "They have the right to do so, provided they pass the test. But I would n't want my daughter to driver, as it's dangerous," he told this paper. Hend Mokhtar, 28, a journalist, says that it is not about men or women, but whether people drive well. "A woman can drive, provided she's responsible and has passed the test," she explains. “Yes, women do cause accidents, but then so do men. I myself don't like driving, as it requires a lot of courage." Hala Wahab, 19, a student, who doesn't drive, believes that women should not drive. "There are two types of women who drive cars: the first type are tense and drive slowly, which can cause problems. The second are rash and hasty, and that too is dangerous," she explains. Islam el-Sakhawi, 35, a free-lance translator, believes that Egyptian culture plays a key role in this issue. "Women adhere to the rules more closely than men and also drive more carefully," he stresses. "Lack of discipline and morals is the only problem in our society," Reda Ali, 25, employee, said. "Men and women make mistakes while driving. Some cabbies drive badly."
