You might be a finely responsible young man or woman, but statistics don't lie. You have too many minor brethren that make up the majority of motor vehicle crashes.

So, to protect everyone from your relatively high odds of crashing, we rein you in, especially during your teenage years.

You'll first get this piece of paper that says "Learner's Permit" on it. You're permitted to drive, but you have to have a parent, guardian, or qualified driving instructor in the front passenger seat at all times.

This bears repeating. You can't drive alone. Anywhere. This is huge. If a cop catches you driving alone with only a Learner's Permit, it's likely that you won't get your real license until you're at least 18.

Think you're cool because you're 16 or 17 and have your license? For the first six months, you can't have any passengers other than a parent, guardian, driving instructor, or licensed 20-year-old with at least four years of driving experience and no suspensions during the past four years. For the subsequent six months, you're allowed to drive anyone in your immediate family. And until you turn 18, you can't drive between the hours of 11:00PM and 5:00AM unless you're going to or from work, school, church, or the hospital.

The belief is that in this probationary time, you'll be extra super extra extra cautious. And if you're not, then you aren't ready to be inflicted on everyone else who has to use the same roads as you.

Already feeling antsy? Want to upgrade your Learner's Permit to an adult license? Let's play a little game to see if you're eligible.

Learner's Permit: Choose Your Own Adventure (As Long As It Sticks to State Rules)

Let's say you've had your Learner's Permit for a while now and want to upgrade to the real deal:

A. Are you 18 or older? If YES, go to B. If NO, go to C.
B. Congrats! Once you turn 18, you don't need that Learner's Permit anymore. Time to upgrade.
C. Have you had your Learner's Permit for at least 180 days, or at least 120 days, with 30 hours of classroom and eight hours of behind-the-wheel practice driving through a state-approved driver education program? If YES, go to D. If NO, go to E.
D. Have you completed two hours of driving training with a parent and/or guardian as part of an eight-hour Safe Driving Practices course? If YES, go to F. If NO, go to E.
E. Sorry kid, you're gonna have to wait a while.
F. Has a responsible adult driver aged 20 or older with at least four years of experience and no suspensions for the past four years certified that you have had at least 40 hours of driving practice? If YES, go to G. If NO, go to E.
G. Have you passed a driving test? If YES, go to H. If NO, go to E.
H. Congrats! You're the proud owner of a shiny new Class D Connecticut Driver's License.