Behind the wheel in Kabul

Behind the wheel in Kabul

Advertisement

The streets of Kabul, one of the world’s fastest growing cities, are increasingly blocked by cars and buses.

There are few road signs and many potholes and only about a quarter of Afghanistan’s useable roadway is paved.

Still, Afghans are flocking to the city’s driving schools to get their licence.

. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

At a driving school on a busy street of Kabul, the walls are covered with photos of traffic signs and engine parts as the instructor teaches his students the basics of car mechanics.

In the city’s private driving schools, students pay a $60 fee for a 45-day course, which includes oral and practical driving tests at the country’s Traffic Department.

. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Some female students, including 21-year-old Kanaz pictured above during a driving lesson, complain of unwanted gazes and physical harassment on the cramped, crowded minibuses that are often the only method of urban public transport.

Of the seven female drivers at the training course, two said that while they would get their driving licenses, they never planned to drive because they believe the mainly conservative society was not yet ready to accept female drivers.

1 / 20

Slideshow

A speedometer is seen at a driving school in Kabul.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A speedometer is seen at a driving school in Kabul.

An instructor (right) teaches women during a technical class.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

An instructor (right) teaches women during a technical class.

Tahmina talks to her instructor during a practical lesson.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Tahmina talks to her instructor during a practical lesson.

A student hold a book of road signs.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A student hold a book of road signs.

A women attends a class.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A women attends a class.

An instructor explains traffic signs.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

An instructor explains traffic signs.

Afghan men attends a class at a driving school.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Afghan men attends a class at a driving school.

An instructor (left) teaches a man how to drive.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

An instructor (left) teaches a man how to drive.

A teacher explains a car’s mechanics.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A teacher explains a car’s mechanics.

A trainee looks at a speedometer.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A trainee looks at a speedometer.

An instructor teaches a man how to drive.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

An instructor teaches a man how to drive.

A school boy waits before crossing a street.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A school boy waits before crossing a street.

A red traffic light counts down.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A red traffic light counts down.

Tahmina drives during a practical lesson.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Tahmina drives during a practical lesson.

People travel in an overcrowded van.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

People travel in an overcrowded van.

A traffic policeman directs vehicles on a busy road.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A traffic policeman directs vehicles on a busy road.

An Afghan man takes an eye test before receiving a driving license at the traffic police department.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

An Afghan man takes an eye test before receiving a driving license at the traffic police department.

Men attend a lesson before receiving a driving license at a traffic police department in Kabul.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Men attend a lesson before receiving a driving license at a traffic police department in Kabul.

Afghan men wait as an official holds their test papers.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Afghan men wait as an official holds their test papers.

A chart of student who completed their driving lessons is seen on a wall at a driving school.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A chart of student who completed their driving lessons is seen on a wall at a driving school.

. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail