Go forth, old Zhu

His licence plate had the following symbols “1 ZHU 1”

His car was a brand new Forthing. SIC!

I know, you’ve never heard of it. Neither have I. Have now.

I am guessing it was battery operated. It looked like every other Chinese electric SUV. That is, like a five year old Toyota.

Old mate, Zhu, I don’t think he has driven before.

The lights went green and nothing. Then, very slowly, the thing took off.

I think he was carefully acquainting himself with the right hand pedal.

Then there was the issue of momentum. He had quite a mass of batteries to overcome.

Eventually the Forthing achieved forward motion. Not acceleration. That would be overstating it. It more or less settled into a specific direction of travel.

No risks were taken. No pedestrians were startled.

And we should encourage that.

And yet, we must stand back and consider the wrath of the disenfranchised fellow travellers.

The queue behind him was not merely traffic. It became a political movement.

One Nation probably gained three votes before Zhu reached 10 kmh.

Not so much racism; more like heuristics.

Because if there’s ever a time to be honest with yourself, its behind the wheel of a car.