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 "Instruction Permit" on it. You're permitted to drive, but if you're under 16, you have to have a parent, guardian, or certified driving instructor in the front passenger seat at all times. If you're 16 or over, you have to have a licensed driver who's 21 years of age or older in the front passenger seat. Again, at all times.

This bears repeating. You can't drive alone. Anywhere. This is huge. If a cop catches you driving alone with only an Instruction 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 and have your Intermediate Class F License? For the first six months, you may not drive more than one passenger under the age of 19 who's not a member of your immediate family. After the first six months, you may not drive more than three passengers under the age of 19 who aren't members of your immediate family. And while you have your Intermediate Class F, you can't drive between the hours of 1:00AM and 5:00AM without that 21-year-old in your passenger seat unless you're driving to or from work, school, 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 Instruction Permit to an Intermediate Class F? Let's play a little game to see if you're eligible.

Instruction Permit: Choose Your Own Adventure (As Long As It Sticks to State Rules)

Let's say you've had your Instruction Permit for a while now and want to upgrade:

A. Are you 21 or older? If YES, go to B. If NO, go to C.
B. Congrats! None of this applies to you.
C. Have you had your Instruction Permit for six months? If YES, go to D. If NO, go to E.
D. Are you at least 16 years old? If YES, go to F. If NO, go to E.
E. Sorry kid, you're gonna have to wait a while.
F. Has a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult driver aged 21 or older certified that you have had at least 40 hours of driving practice, of which at least ten were at night? 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 F Intermediate Missouri Driver's License.

After you've held your Intermediate Class F for 12 blissfully violation-free months, you'll be eligible for the upgrade to an unrestricted license. Think you can handle it?