Women with the drive

A group of women who drive SUVs plan to explore new paths of adventure

the idea of forming a group of drivers who own 4WDs is that three of the doctors are members of the same Rotary Club (Blossoms) in Thiruvananthapuram.

For Dr. Namitha, it is the sense of adventure and the comfort of the vehicle that has made her a strong advocate of the SUV.

In the case of Dr. Ambika Shetty, it is her new year resolution to step out of her comfort zone that made her join the ride in her Thar. “Asha persuaded me to join the ride and I enjoyed it. I might choose to go offroading as well,” she says.

Lekshmi VG, a techie, has been a part of several offroading trips in Kerala. She points out that the advantage of the 4X4 is that one can drive on almost any kind of terrain. Entrepreneur Shincy Anand maintains it is the comfort and ease of driving that made her choose a 4x4.

Vouching for their beasts, the women maintain that the narrow roads in the city are not difficult to negotiate. “On the contrary, it is one of the most comfortable and safe vehicles to drive. I feel safe when I am at the wheel as the height gives me a superb view of the road ahead,” says Dr. Namitha.

Not only are these motorheads excellent drivers, most of them are also quite handy with changing tyres and basic maintenance of their vehicle.

Awungshi makes it a point to do a basic checkup before every long trip, “including engine oil, gear oil, brake oil and coolant assessment. And, yes, my father did train me how to change a puncture if the need ever arises!”

Asha asserts that everyone who drives, irrespective of gender, should have an idea about the basic mechanics of the vehicle. She adds, “The thrill of driving heavier vehicles has made me learn to manage in case of trouble, to some extent.”

The women are set to move into top gear with more trips and longdistance drives.