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 parent, guardian, or spouse who's 19 years of age or older, or any licensed driver who's 21 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 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 probationary license? For the first nine months, you can't drive between the hours of midnight and 5:00AM without one of the aforementioned chaperons in your passenger seat unless you're driving to or from work or school. You can drive any number of immediate family members and up to one other person if supervised. Otherwise, you can only drive one other person.

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, anyone who incurs a moving traffic violation will either have to wait an extra six months to get their license if they have their permit, or they'll have to drive with their probationary license for an extra six months.

Already feeling antsy? Want to upgrade your Instruction Permit to a probationary 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 can skip the Probationary License and go right to the real thing. Time to upgrade.
C. Have you had your Instruction 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 30 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 D Probationary Wisconsin Driver's License.