Deer/Vehicle hits

Deer hit's are a real problem here in Missouri. It seems as though everyone hit's one at some point.... that brings up a question. Has anyone here that's hit a deer, hit one in a vehicle that had "Deer" whistles installed on it? Do they actually work? I had some on a truck years ago.... never hit a deer but sold the truck and have never installed them on any of my vehicles since.

If they do then then it was a deaf deer than ran in front of the hubby's truck last year :)

Hi,

I actually listened to a radio program a year or two back that were discussing some questionable items on the market that people buy. Deer Whistles were one of those items. They had a panel of people in different fields (scientists, electrical-mechanical engineers.. and so on) discussing these various products.

In the end, it was a unanimous consensus that the Deer whistles absolutely are a gimmick and don't work.


From this article on the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program website:

Wildlife Myth # 7. Deer whistles work just fine.

* Wrong! Anecdotally, many people swear by their deer whistles, but there are no scientific studies that prove that they work.
* The animal has to hear the noise, recognize that it is coming from a vehicle, interpret that the sound means danger, and react by moving away from the vehicle.
* The danger is that if drivers think that deer whistles work, they may become complacent and rely on the deer whistle instead of driving wildlife aware.

From this transcript of the "Vertebrate Pest Conference" from 1990 (found under "Ultrasonics") :



One more, From U.S. Roads website :

Whistles and Other Noisemakers:

Ultrasonic whistles mounted on vehicle bumpers emit a shrill tone when air passes through them as the vehicle travels over thirty miles per hour. Manufacturers claim these whistles are audible to deer (but not to humans) and effective in frightening deer from the roadway. The whistle is about two inches long and bullet shaped. In 1990, according to The New York Times NATIONAL, deer whistles cost about $25, and such groups as the California, Iowa, and Kansas state police were using them on their patrol cars.

While manufacturers contend deer can hear the whistle up to a quarter mile away, no published research verifies the device's effectiveness. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety presented evidence refuting claims promoting the whistles:

Georgia's Game and Fish Department, for example, found that in hundreds of observations from vehicles equipped with deer whistles, deer didn't respond. Whistles on vehicles going 25-30 mph produced no ultrasonic sound, although some ultrasonic and lower frequencies were produced when the whistles were blown by mouth. According to wildlife biologists at the University of Georgia, neither deer nor humans can hear ultrasonic sound. Whistles blown by mouth near captive deer produce no response.

A University of Wisconsin study found that three types of whistle did produce low-pitched and ultrasonic sounds at speeds of 30 to 70 miles per hour; however, researchers were unable to verify that deer responded to the sounds, even at distances well below the distances from which manufacturers claim the whistles are heard. Moreover, deer would only be able to hear the whistles if there were a straight shot between the deer and the whistle. If curves, trees, or other obstacles came between the deer and the whistle, the device would be ineffective.

According to an article called "Blowing the Whistle on Deer Scare Devices" in the Mid-February 1993 Farm Journal, the Ohio State Police installed deer whistles on their patrol vehicles; however, they reported finding no significant decrease in collisions between patrol cars and deer. The same article indicated that a panel of the World Society for the Protection of Animals could find no data proving "that such a device can actually stop an animal crossing the road, which is the main purpose of the device." Finally, Washington State University researcher Leonard Askham felt the evidence tended to favor a conclusion that deer whistles do not work. "Even if the devices were effective," Askham warned, "they would soon become clogged with insects and dirt and stop working."


There are thousands of studies to be found that basically say the same thing.... Don't waste your money.

According to State Farm Ins there is a 1/155 chance of hitting a dear in your state.
Not odds I would bet on.
My state, SC, it is 1/153.
Steve

The whistles probably do a very good job of preventing deer from hitting the back of your car. :eyepop:
Seems to me that the sound would be behind the whistle and not be much help in front.

All of them I've seen mounted on cars were mounted low on the front of vehicles. That put them in an area where the air is being pushed by the surface behind the whistle and I don't see how enough air could go through one to let it make any sound.

John St.
That's bunch of interesting reading..... Thanks, it made me wonder even more so I Gooooooooogled Deer Hits (etc) and my gawd! .... it's amazing. The search result was not only deer hits but every other creature roaming around.... kinda makes you afraid to drive. As far as do the whistles work.... I'm leaning towards.... NO
Here's a link that goes on and on.... (ignore the ad's etc) http://www.car-accidents.com/deer-car-auto-accidents.html

It's that time of year here in my area where, if you're driving early morning or late afternoon, you WILL see numerous deer. You can't rely on your reaction time if one jumps in front of you, you literally have to be constantly scanning the fields and ditches to try to see them earlier. If you're on your phone, talking with your passenger, or generally spacing off, you're just asking to hit one. Its ridiculous. I honestly think there should be a mass eradication of about 50% of the deer population in this area. PETA wouldn't like it, but it needs to be done.

Our local chevy dealer just last week sent out a new camaro rs/ss with a customer and the saleswoman and they hadn't gone five miles and they hit a deer. Totalled.

Lets consider some observations:

Deer cross roads at x times per hour per mile

Deer move at night

Deer stop when they see headlights

If WE spend less time on a given mile of road, we'll encounter fewer deer

If WE don't have headlights on, any deer we do encounter won't stop

Ergo, drive fast without headlights!

Safety Fast! (and lightless:)

Next?

Peter C

Interesting that this topic should come up tonight. I just hit my first deer earlier tonight.
We were on our way to our monthly MG CC meeting and on a secondary road in our town.
Driving along with the wipers on due to the rain when suddenly the deer hit the side of
the drivers side front fender, and bounced along over the hood and smashed the windshield.
Fortunately the glass shattered but stayed intact and didn't come in the car. I'm glad we
were in the Buick and not the MG or it could have been very serious. Now the fun of getting hold
our our insurance company and a collision shop (just up the road) and a rental car. I know the
rental company will come to the house with a car for us and I have to get one that I can get my wife
in and out of easily and also one with enough room in the trunk for her wheel chair. This was
definitely not our night. I'm just thankful we were not injured but I'm really bummed out about the car.
This is not what I hoped the night would be like.

George Herschell

George, I'm glad you and your wife are safe.

Dang George... that's too bad and I'm glad you and your wife are okay. That's about the way my collision with a deer was.... IT hit me.... It's was at night, very dark and kinda misty rain and BAM!... A deer smacked into the drivers door of my P/U.... it dented in to front fender, the head hit the lower left of the windshield breaking that... and then it kinda rolled down the side denting the door, cab post and the bed along the way. It was a doe.... oh, about 125-30 lbs. Killed it and totaled my truck. It's scary when it happens and it happens WAY too often everywhere. I would like to see the deer/vehicle hit counts for the whole country... I bet it's alarming.
So, good luck out there on the roads people.... keep you speed down somewhat and you eyes moving so you a least have a chance to avoid hitting one.

Here's a shot of what happened to the windshield on our Buick when we hit
(or rather when the deer) hit us last night.

George Herschell

Here's the fender that he bounced off first before hitting the windshileld.
I never did get a look at him (or her) but whichever must have been a big one
Thankfully the glass just shattered but didn't break. Had he gone through,
I probably wouldn't be writing this tonight.

George

Glad you and your wife are OK, George. The damaged car is inconvenient but it's only a car at the end of the day.

Thankfully there are few areas in the UK where deer are a problem.