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 licensed parent, guardian, driving instructor, or adult driver 25 years of age or older 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 and have your Junior Operator License? Well, you've still got some restrictions, unfortunately. For the first three months, you aren't allowed to drive any passengers unless you're accompanied by a parent, guardian, driving instructor, or licensed 25-year old. For the second three months, you're only allowed to drive members of your immediate family if you're unsupervised. After the first six months, all passenger restrictions are lifted, but you must ensure that you don't drive more passengers than there are seat belts for them. Last but not least, for the entire year you have your Junior Operator license (or until you turn 18), you can't drive a vehicle for employment, so that pizza delivery dream is dead.

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 a Junior Operator 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! None of this applies to you.
C. Have you had your Learner's Permit for at least twelve months? If YES, go to D. If NO, go to E.
D. Have you not incurred a moving traffic violation or permit suspension during 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. Have you successfully completed a state-approved driver education course, and has a parent or legal guardian 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 Vermont Junior Operator License.