Iranian Women Can Now Obtain Motorcycle Licences

TEHRAN: Women in Iran can now formally obtain licences to ride motorcycles, local media reported Wednesday, ending years of legal ambiguity surrounding two-wheelers.

Previously, Iranian law did not explicitly ban women from riding motorcycles or scooters, but authorities routinely refused to issue licences. This legal grey area meant women could be held responsible in accidents, even as victims.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed a resolution on Tuesday to clarify the traffic code. Approved by the cabinet in late January, the resolution requires traffic police to provide practical training to female applicants, organize exams under police supervision, and issue motorcycle licences to women, according to the Ilna news agency.

The change comes amid broader societal shifts following waves of protests across Iran. While the unrest initially stemmed from economic grievances, it escalated last month into nationwide anti-government demonstrations. Tehran has reported more than 3,000 deaths during the unrest, mostly among security personnel and bystanders.

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Since the 1979 revolution, women in Iran have faced various restrictions, including strict dress codes, which posed challenges for riding motorcycles. Women must cover their hair and wear modest, loose-fitting clothing. Despite these rules, the number of women riding motorcycles has risen in recent months, particularly following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained for allegedly violating dress codes.

Her death ignited protests across Iran, with women demanding greater freedoms, including mobility and personal rights.