ANSWERS: 2
  • <h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: It Makes Sense in Theory

    Deer whistle manufacturers claim that at certain speeds, warning whistles emit a high-pitched, shrill sound inaudible to humans, but one that alerts animals in the area of your presence. There are two types of deer repellent whistles on the market: air velocity and electronic. Air velocity whistles are activated by compressed air and only produce a high-pitched sound when vehicles are traveling 35 mph or faster. Electronic whistles are battery-powered, and manufacturers claim they produce shrill, directional sound waves--comparable to a virtual sonic echo effect--reflected from the road surface as a vehicle is driving on it. According to a 1990 New York Times article, state police from California, Iowa and Kansas were using these devices on their patrol cars. On a theoretical level, using deer whistles to prevent accidents seems legitimate.

    On the Other: No Studies Have Yet Proven Their Effectiveness

    On the scientific level, however, the effectiveness of deer whistles has not been studied. A few before-and-after studies have been conducted by outlets like the Farm Journal, the University of Wisconsin and Georgia's Game and Fish Department, but none that gauges whether or not a deer can actually detect the shrill, high-frequency sound emitted by the whistle.

    Bottom Line

    Drivers who affix deer whistles to their vehicles don't have much to lose from doing so, especially if the whistle was provided at no cost by their insurance companies. But don't go out of your way to purchase one, because there is no conclusive evidence that directly links deer repellent whistles to a lower incidence of deer-vehicle collisions. In fact, highway safety advocates suggest that the best way to prevent deer-vehicle accidents is vigilance. Deer are most active in the evening and early morning hours, so actively keeping an eye out on both sides of the road as you drive through remote areas--and using high beams to help when possible--can go a long way in preventing scary deer-related collisions.

    Source:

    US Roads: Road Management and Engineering Journal

    Deer-Departed.com: Do Car Deer Whistles Work?

    DeerBusters.com: Deer Whistle Product Information

  • Your only defense is to be going fairly slow when one jumps in front of you.

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