The dynamic and dangerous job of a professional driver is not reserved only for men. Women are proving that they can certainly match them in this sphere as well. Dragica Jurić from Žepč is the first female professional driver in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He has been engaged in international bus transport for 24 years. This successful woman, mother of three children, recognized her love for this business at a very young age. Considering that it is a family business, she also had the best mentors. One of her sisters later followed in her footsteps.
– After finishing school, I started working as a conductor and in the meantime I became interested in trying to drive a little, which is how we came up with both the need and the idea that I could pass for the D category and, normally, I liked it, it was great – she told us is Dragica Jurić.
At first, he says, it was unusual.
– But I realized that the most important thing is to have a feel for the length of the vehicle, so it could be easily overcome and there were no problems – Jurić added.
And so, kilometer by kilometer, countless of them remained behind Dragica. There are many more ahead of her.
– Most often I drive the regular line Zenica – Zagreb. I leave in the morning, come back in the evening, drive for two days and take a break for two days, I rest – asserted Jurić.
And considering that there were situations when she was absent for up to 10 days, her love for work had to be balanced with family obligations. It was not easy, he says, but with good organization, anything is possible.
– I never regretted it because it made me something big, special. My family was missing, but somehow I went with pride and faith. It fulfilled me. I miss him, but I know that I will return and be with my family, but that was something really big for me – said Jurić.
Responsibility towards passengers, constant concentration on the road were not an easy task in the beginning. Although as a woman behind the wheel of the bus she attracted curious, sometimes even skeptical looks, very quickly she spontaneously convinced her fellow passengers that they were in safe hands.
– When I appear on the platform, passengers often ask me ‘please tell us where the driver is’, when I tell them it’s me, they don’t believe me and then get a little scared, but some are even pleasantly surprised, they say it’s an honor for them to ride with a woman – Jurić told N1..
There are many anecdotes, but one stands out.
“I had one ride from Slavonski Brod to Zagreb, alone, where a colleague would wait for me at the toll booths. He always liked to joke. And he gets on the bus and says: “But, colleague, all your passengers are pale” – said Jurić with a smile.
It’s not that there weren’t dangers and challenges on the way, but with the support of family and colleagues, everything went much easier.
– Colleagues never made a difference. They always helped us, respected us, and were always happy when they could say that they drive with us, women, colleagues… to go to work, to the bus… – said Jurić.
Therefore, being a lady in a man’s business is not as difficult as it seems at first. It also has its advantages, Dragica tells us.
– I was driving in a different state, so at the border they take me out, everyone comes around me, including the police and customs, they admire my driving, this, that, early pregnancy, but it’s unusual for them… – she added.
As we slowly bring this interesting gathering to an end, we take the opportunity to find out if women are better drivers?
– We are more careful, we pay more attention, we are gentler when driving. Colleagues are also good, but we have a greater feeling for it, concluded Jurić at the end.
But, as our interlocutor says, without colleagues who are in charge, among other things, of vehicle maintenance, there would be neither safe driving nor pleasant travel.
Dragica and her colleagues in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of whom there are quite a few, show that women can really do anything.
