Select Language:
Women in Iran can now officially get a motorcycle license, according to local media reports on Wednesday. This marks the end of years of legal uncertainty surrounding two-wheel vehicles. Although the law previously didn’t explicitly ban women from riding motorbikes and scooters, authorities often refused to issue licenses in practice. Due to this ambiguity, women have been held legally responsible for accidents, even when they weren’t at fault.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed a resolution on Tuesday to clarify the traffic regulations, which the cabinet approved in late January, reported Iran’s Ilna news agency. The new rule requires traffic police to provide practical training for women applicants, conduct exams under police supervision, and issue motorcycle licenses to women.
This development comes amid a wave of protests throughout Iran, initially driven by economic issues but escalating last month into nationwide anti-government demonstrations. The government acknowledges that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, mostly security forces and bystanders.
Since the 1979 revolution, women in Iran have faced many societal restrictions, including strict dress codes that complicate riding motorcycles. Women must cover their hair with headscarves and wear modest, loose clothing when in public. However, in recent years, many women have challenged these rules, with a significant increase in women riding motorbikes, particularly after Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman, died in custody in 2022 for allegedly violating dress codes. Her death sparked widespread protests by women demanding greater freedoms.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
