Iran formally allows women to drive motorcycles: What to know |
Iran’s government signed a resolution on Tuesday that allows women to legally drive motorcycles after obtaining a license, at a time when many restrictions on women’s rights remain in place.
The resolution tasks the Police Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran with issuing motorcycle licenses to women following mandatory training and an examination. The exam will be organized under the direct supervision of traffic police and by female officers. In cases of personnel shortages, male officers may be assigned, provided that religious considerations are observed, according to a decree reported by several Iranian news outlets.
Under the new rules, all female applicants must also complete practical training at licensed schools under the supervision of female instructors before obtaining a license. Of note, Iran’s Traffic Law also requires men to complete training to obtain a motorcycle license.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed the resolution, which the cabinet finalized last week, according to state-linked ILNA news agency.
Restrictions on women’s rights
Many women in Iran have already ridden motorcycles for years despite some ambiguity surrounding the country’s Traffic Law. While the law does not explicitly prohibit women from driving........