Iran Formally Ends Decades-Long Ban on Female Motorcyclists

Women in Iran will now be able to legally obtain motorcycle licences, marking a significant policy shift after years of ambiguity over whether they were permitted to ride two-wheelers.

Local media reported on Wednesday that a new government resolution has clarified the country’s traffic laws, which previously did not explicitly ban women from riding motorcycles but effectively prevented them from obtaining official licences. As a result, female riders were often denied legal recognition and, in some cases, held responsible for accidents even when they were victims.

Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, signed the resolution on Tuesday, following cabinet approval in late January. According to the Ilna news agency, the new directive instructs traffic authorities to provide training for female applicants, conduct official driving tests, and issue motorcycle licences to women under police supervision.

The policy change comes amid heightened political and social tensions in Iran, following waves of protests that began over economic concerns and later evolved into widespread demonstrations against the government. Authorities have acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, although they maintain that many of the casualties were security personnel and bystanders.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women have lived under strict social regulations, including mandatory dress codes that complicate activities such as riding motorcycles. Women are required to wear headscarves and modest clothing in public, although many have increasingly challenged these rules in recent years.

Despite restrictions, the number of women riding motorcycles has grown, particularly after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022, an incident that triggered nationwide protests led by women demanding greater freedoms.

The new licensing framework is seen as a step toward recognising women’s presence on the roads and clarifying their legal rights, even as broader debates over women’s freedoms and social restrictions continue in the country.