THE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17756, 17 September 1927, Page 11

THE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT.

have motorists the herding

INSTINCT?

Human nature has not changed -with the coming of the car. ’. s still as gregarious as ever. '' i n lew exceptions, he is too timid to venture alone and only feels safe when in the company of numbers of his fellows.

Occasionally, one comes across motorists of independent spirit privateers, as it were—who roam alone at a speed which suits their mood. If they are following a main road they are always striving to draw out from the common ruck. Any observer will have noted how 'cars seem to travel in droves. If one is driving along a main road one suddenly’ encounters groups of anything from four to twenty cars all driving close behind one another at the same speed. Then_ for some miles not another motorist is encountered until another such gang approaches. The same phenomenon may be noticed when going out of town on a Saturday or Sunday morning, lime after time one overtakes little groups of cars purring steadily along at 2 0 m.p.h. or so. What is the reason for this herding together of motorists? Surely the car owner, of all people, .would seize the opportunities of individual exploration which the automobile presents! There are many theories for this disinclination to motor alone It has-been suggested that inexperience is at the root of the matter The'hew motorist, having but. vague ideas, of the width of hir, car anc whether he may safely pass, hangs desperately on to the tail of anotliei vehicle driven, he hopes, by someone more experienced than himself. I he lees the car ahead swing past ai obstruction or an oncoming vehicle he feels that he can do the same Where the road narrows he feel that where one man has gone he cai go. If the driver in front pulls on to overtake a slower vehicle he doe the same, and so on. Presently thi novice is joined by another, and little later there is a further additio to the group. None of the driver seems to make any attempt to go away from his travelling companion or overtake the leader. This herding is almost cntirel confined to main-road users. Mot of those who have the co -1 - t venture among the lanes and bywac do so alone, but these gangs c motorists trundle peacefully alon every main road in the county scowling at those who seek to ove take them at a higher speed. It as if each driverftielt safer, more ; home, on a broad main road whe: someone is sure to pass and come i his. assistance should he he in nee of it and where the constant siren: of traffic prevents him from feeiir lonely. But. very often those wi compose these little groups of ca are the sort of people who simp love being in a crowd.