Women in Iran can now formally obtain licences to ride motorcycles, ending years of legal uncertainty surrounding female riders, local media reported on Wednesday.
Although Iranian law did not expressly ban women from riding motorbikes or scooters, authorities had long refused to issue licences in practice. This legal grey area often left women held liable in road accidents, even when they were the victims.
Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, signed a resolution on Tuesday clarifying the traffic code. The measure, approved by the cabinet in late January, directs traffic police to train female applicants, conduct licensing examinations under police supervision, and issue motorcycle licences to women, according to the Ilna news agency.
The development comes against the backdrop of widespread protests across Iran, initially driven by economic grievances but later evolving into broader anti-government demonstrations. Authorities have acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, maintaining that most were security personnel and bystanders.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women have faced various social restrictions, including strict dress codes that have posed challenges for female motorcyclists. Women are required to cover their hair and wear loose-fitting clothing in public.
In recent years, however, many women have increasingly defied these restrictions, leading to a noticeable rise in female motorcyclists. The trend accelerated after the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, whose arrest for allegedly breaching dress rules sparked nationwide protests demanding greater freedoms for women.