Women in Iran formally allowed to ride motorcycles

Women in Iran will now be able to officially obtain motorcycle driving licences, as authorities move to end years of uncertainty over whether they are legally allowed to ride two-wheelers, local media reported on Wednesday.

Until now, Iranian law did not clearly ban women from riding motorcycles or scooters. However, traffic authorities routinely refused to issue licences to women, leaving them in a legal grey area.

As a result, women riders were often held responsible in accidents, even when they were not at fault.

According to the Ilna news agency, First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed a resolution on Tuesday to clarify the traffic regulations. The measure had already been approved by Iran’s cabinet in late January.

Under the new resolution, traffic police are required to offer practical training to women applicants, conduct driving tests under direct police supervision, and issue motorcycle licences to women who qualify.

The move comes against the backdrop of widespread protests in Iran, which initially began over economic concerns and later turned into nationwide demonstrations against the government. Authorities have acknowledged that more than 3,000 people were killed during the unrest, saying most of them were security personnel or bystanders.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran have faced various social and legal restrictions. Riding motorcycles has been particularly challenging due to strict dress codes, which require women to cover their hair with a headscarf and wear loose, modest clothing in public.