We may be living in the 21st century, but that doesn’t mean the future has arrived.
We still don’t have a colony on Mars, cars don’t fly, and the only hoverboards we use in real life don’t actually hover and sometimes burst into flame, so we can pretty much agree that the future is not now.
And that means that the old-fashioned automobile is still going to be an important part of everyday life going forward.
While it’s true that Internet communication has meant getting out of the house is no longer as important as it once was in order to socialize, that doesn’t mean that this is the end of the usefulness of an automobile if you’re young.
There are still a lot of good reasons you’ll want to consider getting a driver’s license and going to a teen driving school for proper lessons.
Here are 6 reasons to get a driver’s license.
1. You Don’t Live in a City
Sure, when we watch movies, most of the time the setting is New York, Los Angeles, Miami, or some other big, established American city.
But just because a lot of people live there, doesn’t mean that everyone lives there. In fact, many of us don’t, but that doesn’t make us any less American than a resident New Yorker or San Francisco.
What it does mean, however, is less access to big city public transportation infrastructure like subways, streetcars, light rail transit, or public buses that show up at the stop every 5-10 minutes.
When you live in an urban core of a big city, it almost makes sense NOT to drive, because of parking considerations and how everything you need is usually within a 20-minute walk of your apartment or condo.
If this is NOT your living situation, you already know things are a lot less convenient. When you live in a town, you can’t count on a convenience store being right on the corner of your street.
The doctor or dentist may be 30 minutes away or more by motor vehicle, and by foot or bicycle, we’re talking a few hours.
Getting to the things you need in a town or rural situation involves greater distances, and public transportation is often not up to the task in towns and rural areas to cover every contingency.
One of the biggest reasons to get a driver’s license is simply for the ability to do the day-to-day things that need to be done.
2. Better Career Opportunities
Some of you may have parents that have taken advantage of the information age to work at home. While it’s great that some people have managed to build a lifestyle for themselves that lets them live and work in the same place, this is not going to be an option for everyone.
One of the reasons to get a driver’s license is because a lot of doors will open for both direct and indirect career possibilities.
Of course, there are jobs that actually require driving as part of the job, such as signing on for pizza delivery, or some other kind of food delivery job. But there are also other careers like trucking and package delivery that require a driving license.
On the other side of the equation, there are plenty of careers that don’t require driving as an actual part of the job, but not being able to drive is going to limit you in a lot of ways.
A marketing job, for example, may have you hopping on planes and trains to get to different cities and towns, but once you’ve arrived at your destination, you may still need to rent—and drive—a car to get to your job done while there, or else rack up a huge amount of taxi and other transport bills that you’ll need to fill out forms for if you want reimbursement from the company.
Filling out forms for travel expenses, is, by the way, probably one of the circles of hell in Dante’s Inferno. Just so you know.
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3. Emergencies & Other Unforeseen Circumstances
Things in life happen. You or someone you care about might need to visit the hospital, or the dentist, and that person can’t drive. Someone may be sick and you’re looking out for them, but it’s time to get groceries and it’s going to take a long time to walk or bike to the grocery store, and you’ll be able to carry far less back that way. Someone might need to be picked up at the airport and you’re the only one who can do the job.
In all of these instances, the ability to drive a car makes life a lot easier. Driving ourselves or other people to the places they need to go, in order to do the things they need to get done can be a convenience, or, in the case of a medical-related issue, a life may depend on it.
If your friend at a party was the driver to the destination, but then overdoes it and gets drunk, if you can drive, you can still get both of you home. If you can’t drive, you’ll either have to find someone else that can or wait for your friend to sober up. Being able to drive means having options.
4. More Independence & Control
When your parents were your age, the urge to get a license as quickly as possible was a lot stronger because driving symbolized freedom and independence.
The lack of Internet also meant that many of the entertainment options you take for granted today, such as listening to good music or just interacting with friends had to take place somewhere outside the house, so having a license to drive meant being able to do more of the things you actually enjoyed.
Even if the Internet negates some of these motivations, what hasn’t changed is that getting a driver’s license STILL means you’re more independent and in control of your life.
If you like doing things your way, on your schedule, at your discretion, having a license is one more of those things that will allow you to do so.
Self-driving cars are still years away, so if you want to be able to hit the road when you feel like it, you’ll need a license and a good teen driving school to do it.
5. Carry a Valid Proof of Identity Wherever You Are
Not the most compelling reason you can find but having your driver’s license simply means getting yourself one valid proof for identification. Online transactions usually require an identity check by submitting a valid government ID.
Your driver’s license can be perfect for that purpose simply because, trust me, you’ll be bringing that ID wherever you are, so you’ll have access to it if you need to.
A driver’s license is also a universally accepted form of personal identification, so even if you’re traveling outside the country, you can use your driver’s license to prove your identity and complete your transactions while you’re away.
6. An Escape Route When Time Gets Tough
Ever had that random, crazy idea to just disappear with your besties to take a breather, out of your mundane everyday routine, and to experience something exhilarating and fun?
It happens a lot to me, and if it hasn’t happened to you yet, that time will surely come.
When it does, you don’t want to get disappointed and frustrated that you cannot pursue the plan just because no one is licensed to drive that damn car!
Be the savior and get your driver’s license now. Your friends will love you for it.
Or if you are not the type to get clingy with friends, just the idea that you can get away from it all when things just get too much is like your secret magical escape plan, isn’t it?
So, what are you waiting for?
And Many More Reasons To Get a Driver’s License
The number of reasons to get a driver’s license is pretty much endless.
We haven’t even covered one of the best reasons to get a driver’s license and that is how much FUN it is to drive!
There’s nothing like cruising down the highway, windows down, radio playing, and the ultimate freedom it provides.
If you don’t have a driver’s license yet and you’re old enough to get one, now is the time to get it.