Who do I follow and where?

Yesterday I crossed a road full of traffic without thinking. Why? Because two serious looking accountants in their mid fifties did the same thing, and I just blindly followed. It went well, but got me thinking. Who do I follow, where and why? Would I have followed two teenagers with purple hair and multiple tattoos? Not likely.  Why would I follow two men, just because they are plain looking, and I assume they have good judgement?