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 "Learner's Permit" on it. You're permitted to drive, but you have to have a licensed driver who is 21 years of age or older or a parent, guardian, or spouse who is 18 years of age or older in the front passenger seat at all times. And you can't drive more passengers than there are seat belts in your vehicle.

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 ½ and have your Junior License? Well, you can't drive between the hours of 11:00PM and 5:00AM without that 18-year-old parent, guardian, or spouse in your passenger seat unless you're driving to or from work or a volunteer event. (Make sure you have a signed and notarized affidavit certifying that the event is real, too.) You also may not carry more passengers than you have seat belts in your vehicle, and for the first six months you may not carry more than one passenger under the age of 18 who's not in your immediate family unless a parent or guardian is in the vehicle with you. After those first six months, you still can't drive more than three passengers under the age of 18.

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, if you accumulate six or more points on your license, or are caught speeding 26mph or more over the posted limit, your license will be suspended for 90 days, and you definitely won't be upgraded to the unrestricted license on time.

Already feeling antsy? Want to upgrade your Learner's Permit to a Junior 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:

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 six months? If YES, go to D. If NO, go to E.
D. Have you successfully avoided incurring a moving traffic violation or being at fault in a collision within the last 12 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 65 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 C Pennsylvania Junior Driver's License.