ShareBy Jarah Al-Shebly
KUWAIT: Imagine you’ve just turned 17 and live in Fahaheel. You have to commute to Kuwait University in Shadadiya, which is a 35-minute journey, every day. Unfortunately, your family can’t drop you off because they work in the oil sector, and their schedules don’t align with yours. As a result, you rely on taxis, which is financially draining, costing you a substantial KD 465. In this day and age, a significant percentage of first-year university and high school students are 17 years old.
In Kuwait, which faces challenges over transportation, cars remain the primary mode of travel. During this critical transition period, these students need a vehicle that can help them become more independent and reduce their reliance on their parents, expensive taxis or ride-sharing apps. Kuwait Times conducted interviews with various affected individuals, including Mohammad Alabdulsalam, a Kuwaiti student embarking on his university journey, and lawyer Khould Aloudah, to gain insights into the challenges faced by students.
According to Mohammad, cars play a vital role in transportation in Kuwait. “As a 17-year-old student living in Kuwait without a driver’s license, the transition to university can indeed be challenging. In Kuwait, having a car and a driving license is highly advantageous to avoid dependence on private transportation options like taxis or relying on family members for rides,” he said. Mohammad suggested granting driving licenses to 17-year-olds could be a solution. “Introducing driver’s licenses for both 17-year-old university and high school students would have numerous benefits.
At 17, you’re on the cusp of becoming an independent adult, and learning to drive safely and responsibly at this age would make the transition much smoother. Being able to decide when to leave home and ensuring punctuality is part of this convenience,” he added. Furthermore, Mohammad believes that expanding alternative modes of transportation could alleviate the issue in the long run. “Certainly, one solution could be implementing a metro system. Consider this: An affordable mode of transportation that can connect you to most places you need to go, including school or university.”
Another perspective is provided by Khould, a lawyer who has studied law both in Kuwait and the US. She shared her experiences living in Kuwait, where owning a car is a necessity, and in the US, where she resided in cities like New York and St Louis. Khould described New York as a vibrant city where she had various transportation options. “I’ve lived in two vastly different cities. In Kuwait, I couldn’t go anywhere without my car.
On the other hand, I lived in NYC, where I had the option to use the subway or cycle to get around. It made me more physically active, reduced the stress of parking and traffic, and made going to university much more convenient,” she explained. Making driver’s licenses available for 17-year-olds and possibly even 16.5-year-olds, with rigorous training and strict rules, is a necessity.
This could enhance road safety and reduce accidents, benefiting both the current and future generations. In the absence of alternative transportation options, the country should also work on improving various modes of transportation, such as dedicated bus lanes to avoid traffic, a comprehensive metro system connecting the entire country, and efficient train connections to neighboring nations.
