Women in Iran can now officially obtain licences to ride motorcycles, ending years of legal uncertainty and unofficial restrictions that had barred them from using two-wheelers despite the absence of an explicit ban in the law.
Naija News reports that the development follows the signing of a new resolution by Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, aimed at clarifying the country’s traffic code.
Although Iranian law had never expressly prohibited women from riding motorcycles or scooters, authorities had, in practice, consistently refused to issue licences to female applicants.
As a result of this legal grey area, women riders were often held legally responsible for accidents, even when they were victims.
The newly approved resolution, endorsed by Iran’s cabinet in late January, seeks to put an end to that practice.
Police Directed To Train, Test Women Riders
According to Iran’s Ilna news agency, the resolution mandates traffic police to formally recognise women riders.
It said the directive obliges traffic authorities to “provide practical training to female applicants, organise an exam under the direct supervision of the police, and issue motorcycle driver’s licences to women.”
The move effectively gives women the same procedural access to motorcycle licensing as men.
The policy shift comes in the wake of widespread protests across Iran, which initially erupted over economic hardship but later evolved into nationwide anti-government demonstrations.
Authorities have acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, while maintaining that most of the victims were security personnel and bystanders.
Naija News reports that since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, women have faced numerous social and legal restrictions, particularly in public spaces.
Strict dress codes have posed practical challenges for women riding motorcycles, as they are required to cover their hair with headscarves and wear modest, loose-fitting clothing.
In recent years, however, many women have increasingly defied these norms.
The number of women riding motorcycles has risen sharply in recent months, a trend that accelerated following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s dress code.
Her death sparked widespread protests led largely by women demanding greater freedoms and an end to discriminatory policies.
