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 an approved instructor or licensed driver who's 21 years of age or older with three or more years of driving experience in the front passenger seat at all times. And you must be enrolled in a driver education class. And you can't drive a motorcycle. Bummer.

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 15 ½ and have your provisional license? You can't drive between the hours of midnight and 5:00AM without that 21-year-old in your passenger seat unless driving to or from work, school, or a religious activity. You also can't have more than one passenger under the age of 21 who isn't a member of your immediate family unless accompanied by a 21-year-old driver. 

Take heart, though: once you've had your provisional license for 12 months, you're eligible for an upgrade to an unrestricted license.

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 driving around with a provisional license who's convicted of a moving traffic violation can't apply for an unrestricted license for 90 days, so be careful out there.

Already feeling antsy? Want to upgrade your Learner's Permit to an adult 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. You can skip right to the unrestricted license. 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 within the last 90 days, and have you successfully avoided drinking and driving during the entire duration of time that you had your permit? 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 50 hours of driving practice, of which at least ten were at night, and have you completed a state-approved driver education class that includes a three-hour DWI component? 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 New Mexico Provisional Driver's License.