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 get this piece of paper that says "Instruction Permit" on it. You're permitted to drive, but you have to have a licensed driver who's 21 years of age or older with at least three years of driving experience 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 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 Provisional License? For the first six months, you can't drive between the hours of midnight and 5:00AM without a 25-year-old in your passenger seat unless you're driving to or from work or school, and you can't drive anyone under the age of 20 who isn't in your immediate family. For the second six months, you still can't drive between the hours of midnight and 5:00AM without that 25-year-old in your passenger seat unless you're driving to or from work or school, and you can't drive more than three passengers under the age of 20 who aren't in your immediate family.

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.

And while we're on the subject, you need to maintain a conviction-free driving record for nine months prior to upgrading to a restricted license and six months prior to upgrading to an unrestricted license, so be careful out there.

Already feeling antsy? Want to upgrade your Instruction Permit to a restricted license? 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 18 or older? If YES, go to B. If NO, go to C.
B. Congrats! Once you turn 18, you don't need that Instruction Permit anymore, and you can skip right over the Provisional License, too.
C. Have you had your permit for at least six months? If YES, go to D. If NO, go to E.
D. Have you successfully avoided incurring a moving traffic violation within the last six months? 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 100 hours of driving experience, or has an approved driver education program certified that you have had at least 50 hours of driving experience and taken a traffic safety education course? 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 C Oregon Provisional License.