The Five Best Things About Getting Your Driver’s Licence

Although the way we get our license differs between states, one thing is the same for everyone: once we have it, we want to go everywhere.

All teens look forward to growing up and getting their driver’s licence.

On the road to getting my P plates, I had to complete a log book (including all my hours spent driving) as well as a hazard perception and driving test. But the real hassle was the log book, which needed to be filled out correctly and signed by many different parties.

It was worth it for the final goal.

The first time I drove by myself was exhilarating and felt very exciting. It was the same day that I had passed my driving test, so I went to go and have lunch with my mum. I ended up getting lost and had to call mum, so she could redirect me to where I was supposed to be. Still, the first time I drove by myself I was excited and very proud of the fact that I’d made it this far. It’s normal, however, to feel on edge, as you are so used to driving with another person beside you.

If you don’t have your license yet, don’t stress; there are always friends who will drive you around and public transport that you can catch. For those who are getting close to having their license, it’s okay to mess up while you’re learning, be it stalling the car a couple of times or even failing one of the tests. Those experiences are there for you to learn from and to help you become a better driver anyway.

To keep you on track, here are five things you can look forward to when you finally get your licence.

1. More Freedom, Fewer Buses

One of the greatest parts of getting my license was the fact that I had more freedom to explore my surroundings, while also not having to check bus schedules anymore.

2. It’s Fun (and Sometimes Even Calming)

In general, just driving around can be a lot of fun and even help you calm down or give you something to do if you don’t want to be at home. Now that more and more of my friends are getting their license, we will tend to either delegate a driver or agree to drive to a park for a catch-up.

3. Leave School With Ease

At some schools, once you have your license you can leave with ease. For instance, if you aren’t feeling well, if you have an appointment elsewhere, or if you want to go buy some food during lunch, all you need to do is sign-out at the office (with parental permissions) and go do whatever it is you need to do.

4. Drive-Thrus!

Another great treat is being able to use drive-thrus when you’re in a rush. That doesn’t just mean buying fast food either; coffee and car washes are also on the list of things you can do when you are in a hurry (or just feeling lazy).

5. No Need to Wait for Lifts

Maybe the best aspect of having your license is being able to go and see people without having to ask your parents/other people for a lift, or for a lift home, as you can now get yourself from point A to point B on your own. Your parents also don’t need to worry about how you’re going to get around, knowing you have your own car. Though, now that you’re driving, they’ve probably got a new set of worries...

Photo: Columbia Pictures