back to "Why?" metanode

When reindeer are lounging near the road, but not on it, sometimes they act a little strange when car approaches on the road:

They jump on the road, attempting to cross it quickly, as if they for some reason wanted to reach the other side before car passes them. I have never understood the reason for this pecular behavior, but it exists; it seems that most of the reindeer-car collisions resulting in the death of the less rigid object are because of this. But what is the point of that? Even if reindeer perceive car as a predator like I speculated on the other Why? about reindeer behavior, what on earth would possess them to do that instead of running away?

Is this same behavior seen on other animals? Do moose suddenly jump on road, as if trying to get run over by a car?

In my understanding, reindeer are not very bright animals. If one just happens to be grazing along the side of the road, getting his or her daily suply of exhaust-tainted grass, and a huge, noisy, fast, lighted elephant on wheels decides to come zipping down the road in excess of 100 kph, the reindeer probibly is frightened out of his or her wits. After a quick excretion segment that, if the reindeer wore such articles, would fill his or her pants, the reindeer zips as quickly as possible in whatever direction he or she is facing in order to excape this steel elephant. The reindeer doesn't bother to alter its direction to avoid such a creature because, as I mentioned before, it's inteligance is not up to par with most pencils. Most of the time, however, the reindeer is facing the road, so instinct actually works against the animal's survival.

I'm just guessing, but it sounds pretty logical.