Driving is an awesome and important rite of passage for everyone. Once you can drive, you will open up so many doors and opportunities. It's one of the best ways to enrich your life and enjoy yourself. And it can also come in handy as a convenience, or necessity in emergencies. A lot of people go into the driving process not really knowing what to expect.
 
If you have a clearer idea of the step by step experiences of being a driver you might get more out of it. Knowing what to expect allows you to prepare and enjoy the experience. Here is a guide to your life as a driver through the years. These are all things you can expect to experience at some point over the course of your time as a driver.

You’ve Passed!

Well, naturally the first step in the process will be passing your test. This is sometimes high-intensity, and you’ll be a bundle of nerves to begin with. But passing is most definitely a cause for celebration! You’re now a qualified driver, and everything you’ve worked towards has paid off! Well done, now you’ll be able to look forward to your time on the road with confidence.

Your First Car

Okay, so now you’re at the stage where you’re ready to choose your first car. This is a big decision to make, so you need to have given it some thought before now. You might even have a car lined up for when you’ve passed the test. When selecting your first car, you’ll want something reliable and safe, and also not too expensive.


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Road Tripping

Finally being able to drive might be the realisation of years of hard work and preparation. So, now it’s time for you to make the most of it. You deserve a celebration, and a bit of time away. Get your friends together and plan to have an epic road trip. Of course, this will depend on you feeling comfortable on the main roads. But, you need to celebrate your achievement, and a road trip is an excellent way to do this.

Changing a Tire

At some point in the course of your driving tenure, you might find yourself having to change a tire. You’re not always going to have a service garage nearby, and even if you do you may have no signal. So you’re going to need to know how to do this yourself in case of emergencies. Try it out on your car and read some tutorials online to help you. This is a useful skill to have, and one you’ll be thankful of.

Broken Down

As well as having to change a tire you may also encounter a time when you breakdown. This is something that’s almost always going to happen to a driver. Cars are machines, and they develop faults, it’s a fact of life. Breaking down can be distressing, and sometimes even a little dangerous. So you need to make sure you have a plan of action following a breakdown.

Sleeping in the Car

If you’ve not done it yet, then the time will probably come soon. Everyone might experience sleeping in their car at some point. It could be out of choice, or necessity. But you should always keep something warm in the car in case. Make sure you keep blankets, and maybe some water stored in the boot in the event that you have to sleep in the car!

Accident

This may not happen to you, but it’s entirely possible that you may be involved in an accident. Car accidents can be highly traumatic, and might change your life forever. If you are involved in an accident, you need to consult accident advisors for how to proceed. You may want to take legal action, and you might need some sort of rehabilitation.

Back on the Road

Following some rehabilitation and a bit of a break, you will be ready to go back on the road. Now, this is going to be a difficult process. There is no right or wrong time to get back on the road. It’s really just a case of when you feel you’re ready. You need to be in the right mental and physical state to be behind the wheel again. Make sure you don’t rush yourself back because this may well make it worse.


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The Upgrade

At some point in your life, it’s going to be time for the upgrade. As a driver, you might have had an accident and crashed the car. Or it could just be that it’s old and falling apart. So you need to upgrade the vehicle to a newer model. You’ll have to account for things like budget and what you need the car for. This is an important decision, but it’s not one you have to make alone. Try to enlist friends or family to help if necessary.

Parking Ticket

We will all experience the dreaded parking ticket at some point in our lives. And this is an annoyance. You should try to make sure you keep within the confines of the law when you drive. But sometimes you will get a ticket through no fault of your own. The best thing to do is to pay it right away to get it over and done with. Unless you feel you’ve been treated unfairly, in which case you should appeal it.

Winter Chill

Drivers dread winter more than the cast of Game of Thrones, and for good reason. The winter weather can play havoc with the inner workings of your car, and can ruin the bodywork. The winter chill is something you will have to contend with as a driver; there’s no doubt about that. The best thing to do is to come up with some methods to help treat and protect your vehicle during the winter.
 
So, this is your comprehensive guide to your life as a qualified driver. Hopefully, after reading this, you will have a better idea of what you can expect to encounter on this exciting journey. Driving can be so great, but there are also many dangers attached. Knowing what to expect will help you to enjoy the process more.