Liam Payne Looks as Happy as Anyone Else Getting Their Driver’s License

Watch out, motorists, Liam Payne is the first One Direction member to pass his driving test! Earning your license is one of the most exciting things to happen to a young person, and since Payne is the first band member to experience this coming-of-age milestone, you can bet he’ll be responsible for the late night food runs and errands that the band won’t want to leave to their personal chauffeurs.

Payne recently released a photo of him holding his pass certificate (from the driver’s seat, of course), and he looks about as happy as can be. As happy, indeed, as any other teen who gets to drive solo for the first time. We tend to forget how young these guys really are, considering they’re more successful than most of us will ever be, so seeing him grin from ear to ear as he leans out the window of his car reminds us that, hey, these guys are pretty young.

Although the adorable excitement on Payne’s face might remind us how young the band members are, it’s hard to ignore how well they’ve handled their success. It’s safe to feel confident with Payne on the road, considering he’s handled the band’s success with much more grace and humility than certain other celebrities. We’re probably safer having Payne on the road than a certain Canadian pop star whose recent Lamborghini shenanigans shall not be soon forgotten.

Where did Payne’s next trip take him? We’re not sure. Maybe he hopped off to a restaurant to pick up some treats for the boys, or maybe he headed straight to a dealership to pay cash for a car that none of us could ever hope to afford. Or, possibly, he just went home and crawled into bed. Either way, it’s safe to say that the first One Direction member to get his license did a little celebration, a little happy dance, or at the very least, a high five to his band mates.

Whatever mode of celebration Payne engaged in, we extend our congratulations and wish him the best of luck in all his driving endeavors. While he may still be tempted to be chauffeured around (and who could blame him?), surely this new form of freedom will help him grow up into the responsible young adults all of the One Direction members are starting to become. Either way, congratulations on your license, Liam Payne!