Why do animals jump in front of cars to cross the street?

Question

Why do animals cross the road in front of cars? I have never heard of any studies done on why so many animals die on the road and seemingly dart out only when a car approaches. Often, especially in rural areas or suburbs, there are no cars most of the time on the road, but there are still animals that got ran over, which leads to the conclusion that those animals jumped in front of cars to cross, instead of just crossing when there are no cars. Also, anybody else notice cars stop for geese with chicks on the road so they can cross safely? This also suggests that the geese cross the road only when they see cars coming. I have my own theory as to why this phenomenon occurs, but I'm interested in hearing others' opinions.

Answer 1

I think most of them...if not all....just don't understand the concept of what a car can do to them when they cross a road.

Animals act purely on instinct...rather than intelligence....so...plainly speaking...they just don't know any better.

Crows..on the other hand.....I've noticed that when a crow is in the road..having a meal....they do have sense enough to move when a car comes.    

I've also noticed that when a crow is on the side of a highway...they seem to know that if they are on the right side of the white line...they don't even flinch....maybe..because they realize that...that side of that white line is not the path of travel for a car...so they know they're safe...but..if they are on the other side of that white line..then they do move out of the way.

Who really knows for sure?...I don't. No one I've heard of...ever did a study on this ...but..it is an interesting concept.

Answer 2

Usually the "deer" hit your vehicle, because they are doing their thing (usually at night) and are in a full run just as you go by. If you are driving at night, your headlights would be on, which tends to have a "stunning" affect on wildlife. Timing is everything, as with everything in life.......

If you are driving during daytime hours, you usually see the wildlife about to cross the road and can avoid hitting them by stopping or slowing down.

As for geese and ducks and smaller animals, they usually cross the road during the daytime, and therefore you usually see them in time to slow down or stop, and besides, who wants to hit a poor baby chick?

Answer 3

Here in NJ we have yellow crossing signs. I don't know how they train the deer to cross there!!

Answer 4

to cross the street

Answer 5

they like to play chicken, even chickens do

Answer 6

They have a poor depth perception.....

Answer 7

Interesting question.  The only thing I can think of is maybe its the "flight or fight" response coming in.  Maybe when they're sitting on the side of the road they're doing just that sitting.  And when they see a car coming they see it as a threat and obviously choose "flight" over "fight".  Not that this is a particularly smart choice, but nobody ever accused animals of being overly intelligent.

Answer 8

There Mom never taught them to look twice before crossing the street like your Mom did.

Answer 9

You can, if you want, "jump" to any conclusion you care to, but animals do not jump in front of cars in order to cross the street.

Animal may chose to cross a street at anytime and, being unfamiliar with the deadly potential of a moving vehicle, will not take the time to look both ways and wait for a safe opportunity.  In a rural area where there is little vehicle traffic, it stands to reason that there would BE more animals crossing the road at ANY given time.  That means that anytime a vehicle DOES pass a point in the road, there is an incresed chance that there will be an animal in it's path.

Answer 10

I think they are there all the time, we're less likely to hit them during the day...but they get ran over at night as we don't see them, but they get mesmerized by the light (a deer in the headlights look)...and BAM!