Pochemy.net
biotech Biology

Why hasn’t ‘natural selection’ weeded out all the animals that think it’s safe to cross the road?

Mark Sterling
Mark Sterling
Research Editor · Mar 27, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

We've had road crossings for about 110 years now, and only a lot of them with a meaningful amount of traffic for maybe 50. Even today the majority of a given species lives mostly away from roads. 100 years isn't nearly enough for evolution never-mind 50, and even if it were there's plenty of the …

56
Words

1 min
Read Time

#291
of 500 in Biology

-22%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

We've had road crossings for about 110 years now, and only a lot of them with a meaningful amount of traffic for maybe 50. Even today the majority of a given species lives mostly away from roads. 100 years isn't nearly enough for evolution never-mind 50, and even if it were there's plenty of the species not facing the roads.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Years, species, roads

This explanation focuses on years, species, roads and spans 56 words across 3 sentences. At 22% below the average Biology explanation (72 words), the answer takes a direct, no-frills approach — sometimes the simplest explanation is the most effective.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “We've had road crossings for about 110 years now, and only a lot of them with a meaningful amount of traffic for maybe 5” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 3 connected points.

How This Compares in Biology

Ranked #291 of 500 Biology questions by answer depth (top 59%). This is in the concise tier — a focused explanation that prioritizes clarity over exhaustiveness. Many readers prefer this level of directness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why why hasn't 'natural selection' weeded out all the animals that think it's safe to cross the road?

We've had road crossings for about 110 years now, and only a lot of them with a meaningful amount of traffic for maybe 50. Even today the majority of a given species lives mostly away from roads. 100 years isn't nearly enough for evolution…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Biology questions?

This is a focused answer at 56 words, ranked #291 of 500 Biology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are years, species, roads.

What approach does this answer take to explain why hasn't 'natural selection' weeded out all the animals th?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 56 words. It is categorized under Biology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.