Pa. officials urge drivers not to rely on deer whistles

PENNSYLVANIA, USA — As deer activity increases across Pennsylvania this time of year, some drivers are turning to a small product they hope will help avoid a collision — deer whistles.

The devices are typically small pieces of plastic that attach to the front of a vehicle. They’re marketed to emit a high-pitched sound as the car moves, meant to alert deer and keep them away from the road.

But safety officials say there’s no scientific proof that deer whistles actually work.

“We still have to be responsible for what we’re doing behind the wheel and not rely on a piece of plastic that we don’t know if it’s actually working,” said Barb Zortman, with the Center for Traffic Safety.

Zortman says drivers should stay focused and slow down, especially at dawn and dusk when deer are most active.