Kuwaiti girls use mobile phone while driving

More women use mobile phones while driving than men, a local study conducted on motorists’ use of mobile phones revealed. The study showed that 62.5 percent of women talk over mobile phones or send text messages while at the helm of their vehicles compared to 37.5 men.

This study was conducted by a research team from the Kuwait Society for Traffic Safety last month. More than 100,000 vehicle users were surveyed in this study, in which important traffic issues considered the root cause of car accidents were also identified.

Both men and women, citizens and expatriates, drove 100,000 cars in a month across different areas in Kuwait regardless of the traffic situation. According to the study, women aged between 18 and 35 used mobile phones the most while driving, especially sending text messages or chatting through the BlackBerry, IPhone.

I drive a lot and I have noticed that most women use mobile phones during driving. Women glued to their phones concentrate less on driving which leads to car accidents. I don’t use the phone while driving, though there are times when I use the device hands free. I witnessed an accident that was caused by a woman spoke over phone and failed to concentrate. She wanted to take an exit road from the Fifth Ring Road while she was in the left lane. The car hit her vehicle, It’s really dangerous,” Abdulridha,
a 50-year- old citizen told the Kuwait Times.

Women do not fully agree with the study’s findings. “I think that this percentage is fabricated because I think most people use mobile phones while driving. I see men and women using the phone while driving. I do use the phone while driving but when I do, I always try to use the device hands free. I try to take only really important calls. I know I shouldn’t be doing it but I am trying to stop. It’s just so hard,” stated Linda a 27-year- old Canadian.

Fatma, a 29-year- old Kuwaiti believes that the statistics released are not accurate. “I agree that many people in Kuwait use mobile phones while driving. I see that men have this bad habit more so than women. My brother met with an accident because he used the phone while driving. I don’t use the mobile phone when I drive. Everything has it’s time. So I wait till I reach the place and then call back . If it is really urgent , I stop by the side of the road and make my call,” she noted.

For many the act of sending text messages while driving is more dangerous, “I never send text message while driving. Here, you not only reduce concentration, you deviate your attention from the road to look at the screen of your mobile phone, and accidents usually happen within seconds. I always see women and men using mobile phones while driving. They may harm the innocent as well,” stressed Noof, a 24-year- old woman.

Nawar Negm has been awarded the title of Arab Revolution Woman of the Year 2011

Nawara Negm is an Egyptian activist, journalist, and blogger.

Nawara Negm (aka Nawara Nagem or Nawara Najem) is a spokesperson of the ''real'' opposition in Egypt, and not those who just rode the wave in the very last minute, and those who would leave whenever it got tough.

Nawara Negm was actively present in Tahrir Square Cairo January-February 2011, along with the rebellious youth standing up against Hosni Mubarak''s dictatorship. She witnessed most of the twists, including police brutality and the "Baltajiya" phenomenon (hired x-cons that brutalize civilians) topped with molotov cocktail attacks, all of which attempted to terrorize the protesters and put a stop to the legitimate peaceful manifestations.

Nawara Negm proved very valuable in reporting to the media her observations, including Al Jazeera TV.

After Mubarak''s second speech, in which he reiterated he was not leaving power, Nawara Negm promised she would bring him to justice for the crimes he has committed and the innocent blood that was spilled. The opposition''s demands changed from Mubarak must leave, to Mubarak must be judged. She also accused his regime of being behind all the fabricated Coptic-Muslim tensions and explosions, which she explained are a way to undermine any popular revolutions and to tear down the social and religious fabric of the country. She added that Mubarak is punishing the people of Egypt for daring to ask for their rights, but that he will not get away with it.

As a journalist, Nawara first wrote for El-Helwa newspaper, then for Al-Wafd Newspaper (owned and run by opposition party Al-Wafd), before joining Al-Dustour daily newspaper. Nawara also works as an editor and translator for News Channel Information Technology Egypt-Kanat al Maaloumat al Msriya(one of the specialized channels Nile TV).

Nawara Negm graduated from Ain Shams Faculty of Arts - English Department. To note that she is no other than the daughter of the leftist poet Ahmed Fouad Negm and Islamist thinker and journalist Safinaz Kazem.

The inspirational Nawar Negm has been awarded the title of Arab Revolution Woman of the Year 2011.

Advancement of women across the Arab and Muslim world

The female figurehead of Tunisia's victorious Islamist party has said that its brand of Islam would help rather than hinder the advancement of women across the Arab and Muslim world.

Souad Abdel Rahim, whose stylish appearance in smart suits and silk blouses, worn without a hijab or headscarf, has made her a key element of Ennahda's rise to prominence, told The Daily Telegraph: "The doors are open for women now."

She said the victory of the party in last week's parliamentary election, in which it won 90 out of 217 seats, sent a message to other moderate Islamist parties across the region that they should provide a "framework" for women to advance themselves.

"We can sense that there has already been an impact. Even in Saudi Arabia, women can now vote," she said, referring to a recent decision by the king to open municipal elections to women for the first time.

Ennahda was suppressed under the secular dictatorship of President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali, who was overthrown in a popular revolution in January.

Its leader, Rached Ghannouchi, returned from London after two decades in exile in triumph, but his electoral victory rested on his insistence that the party would preserve Tunisia's liberal traditions and respect democracy.