the use of "drive"

[optimistic pessimist]

Dear all,

I sometime see the word "drive" used to mean "make someone do something".

Is the use of the following "drive" okay?

...Animals fear death only when they face it. This is because it is their instinct, not knowledge, that drives them to try to prevent death....

Thank you!

OP

[ambarde]

OK; cause them to; impel them to; urge them to

[Tdol]

try to prevent death....

Prevent death or avoid death?

[optimistic pessimist]

Hi Tdol,

Thanks for your reply.

Prevent death or avoid death?

I wrote "prevent death" but is "avoid" better?

OP

[5jj]

I wrote "prevent death" but is "avoid" better?

I don't think that animals are capable of 'preventing' death, so I would use 'avoid'.