A female driver in Saudi Arabia who obtained a licence after the country lifted its ban on women driving has been a victim of online abuse by netizens when she seemingly almost killed a mechanic whilst trying to park her SUV.

The online comments included people calling for the woman to stay in the kitchen where she belongs and for women only to be allowed to drive on wide streets.

The incident took place in the Saudi Arabian city of Ta’if on the night of Sunday, 12th September.

CCTV footage shows the moment the woman, who was not named, attempts to park over a vehicle inspection pit when, according to news site YJC, she put her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake by mistake.

She then ploughs into an unsuspecting store worker, crushing him against the shop wall before several people run over to his aid.

The woman can be seen sheepishly getting out of her large vehicle as another man then gets in and reverses it to free the trapped man, whose injuries are unclear.

The footage attracted opprobrium on social media, with a number of Facebook users criticising the woman for her bad driving in a country where women driving is still a novelty.

‘Amran’ commented: “This is the result of women’s driving: destruction and running people over.”

‘Bakry’ commented: “That’s why we are saying that girls have to stay at home. Don’t compare yourselves to men.”

‘Ahmed Khodari’ commented: “These stupid kinds of women should only drive on wide streets.”

‘Hasan SH’, on the other hand, simply went for the cliche: “Your place is in the kitchen.”

A ban on female drivers was lifted in the conservative religious kingdom in 2018 following the appointment of Mohammed bin Salman as Crown Prince the previous year.