Why can't animals learn to cross the road?
Question
Why do animals have no sense of judgement when crossing the road? They always seem to run into the road at the wrong time.Stephanie, Birmingham
Answer
** Definitive **Name: Lorna, Manor Hill
Qualification: Work with the RSPCA
Answer: Animals don’t think… they live in the moment and react to situations by instinct. So for example, if they hear a noise, they would just run away, regardless of whether they were running into the road. But some animals can be trained for road safety – guide dogs for example. Animals learn by association and the guide dogs know that when they are wearing the harness, they are working. But take that harness off and they are far more likely to run into the road, rather than stopping at the curb.