During the mid ’50s, scientists were beginning to look at the idea of seat belts as a way to increase motor safety and prevention of death to people who get involved in accidents. As more and more research was conducted, seat belts became a standard in all automobiles selling in the United States and today 49 states have mandatory seat belt laws.

Despite the increase in the amount of people on the road wearing seat belts, in most states motor accidents and fatalities did not go down. Why? Because the safety of having a seat belt was offset by the individual driving more recklessly because of this presumed safety.

What does this have to do with drunk driving? Well, similar to seat belts, driving sober can have the less-than-sobering effect of giving the driver the belief that he can drive better than he actually can. With this presumption, he makes choices he would not otherwise make if he was drunk. The average drunk driver is on his very best behavior when behind the wheel because he knows that if he crosses over a double yellow line even for a second and a cop pulls him over, he would be able to smell the whiskey on his breath and would most likely be written up for DWI.

The sober driver, however, will take these risks knowing that even with the slight possibility that he could get pulled over, he could most likely whip out a PBA card and talk his way out of the situation.

Furthermore, the sober driver is less afraid of getting in an accident because he believes that his above average driving skills allow him to pass people on the right, drive on the shoulder about 100 yards before it becomes a lane and tailgate anyone unwilling to drive over 100 mph in the left lane. I see these drivers everyday. Trust me, I live in Jersey.

So let this be a lesson: when you’re driving home from the beach late Sunday afternoon, never mind the overly cautious drunks who’ve been drinking all day. But do look out for those Jersey license plates and that sober asshole in knockoff Aviators about to cut you off.