The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), an independent road safety charity in the UK, has launched an initiative that aims to lift the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia.

Currently, women living in Saudi Arabia, if caught driving, would face arrest, imprisonment and even flogging. The IAM feels that women drivers in Saudi Arabia should be given the freedom to drive.

Reasons behind the ban include the argument that driving would provide women with too much freedom and they would be more likely to be promiscuous, which would in turn result in moral decline in the country.

IAM policy and research director Neil Greig said that banning driving is a civil liberties issue for Saudi women.

"The IAM is urging the public to sign the petition and is calling for people to express their support as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations."

"Everyone has the right to free movement and in road safety terms women drivers are far safer than their male counterparts," Greig added.

The IAM is urging the public to sign the petition and is calling for people to express their support as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations.

Saudi Arabian women have been openly conducting campaigns in order to overturn the ban since 2011.

The IAM is an independent UK road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving, motorcycling and cycling.

It currently has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland.

The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive and Survive, while its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.