Can driving with open windows cause permanent damage to your hearing? Does it save on gas? Should you drive with your windows up or down? Here’s a fresh perspective on these questions.
Envision this: It is a tranquil morning, with the clock showing 7:45 AM. As the highway stretches before you, almost free of traffic, you settle into an unhurried pace of 55 miles per hour, feeling the invigorating wind rush in through your rolled-down windows. On such a picturesque day, using the car’s air conditioner seems excessive, doesn’t it? After all, why waste precious gas?
But the question is: Is driving with the windows rolled down potentially harmful to your ears?
What are the potential risks linked to open window driving, according to research?
You don’t think it’s very loud. Researchers in the UK performed experiments with numerous vehicles, from Mazdas to Aston Martins, during non-peak hours at speeds of 50, 60, and 70 MPH.
The researchers’ results were uniform: regardless of the type of vehicle or its speed, driving with the windows open subjected the driver to a nearly continuous sound level of at least 89 decibels.
Could this volume of noise create a hazard of triggering lasting harm to one’s hearing?
Exposure to 85 decibels for 8 hours can definitely result in permanent damage to one’s hearing.
In congested traffic conditions where exposure exceeds 100 decibels, hearing damage can occur within a mere 15 minutes.
What factors cause a rise in volume levels when windows are down?
While your vehicle might seem loud, a number of factors can increase the decibel levels.
A guide to engines and automobile styles
Most gas engines produce about 85 decibels of noise caused by the rapid combustion in their cylinders, representing approximately 80% of gas-powered automobiles. However, hybrids, electric cars, or smaller sized 4-cylinder engines might offer a quieter ride. Alternatively, high-performance automobiles like Ferraris can produce more than 100 decibels, particularly in lower gears.
Resistance to Wind
Air rushing past your vehicle can produce noticeable whistling and whooshing sounds, contributing significantly to the total ambient sound, even in cars known for their quiet ride. At only 15 MPH, cyclists are exposed to 85 dB of wind noise, and at 60 MPH that noise rises to 120 dB, according to recent research. Given that automobiles experience even more wind resistance, driving with windows down can certainly impact your hearing.
Increased traffic results in louder noise
Every car that goes by in multiple lanes adds to the overall noise level. Besides the engine noise, you’re subjected to the wind resistance from passing cars, further boosting total noise levels.
Tips for decreasing risks and promoting safe driving
Reduce the threat of hearing loss while driving with windows down by following these guidelines.
- Take breaks when you are on long drives, alternating between windows open and closed.
- One way for owners of convertibles to decrease noise exposure is to roll up the windows while leaving the roof open.
- Use smartphone applications to track the levels of noise in normal traffic conditions (steer clear of using them when driving a vehicle).
- Keep windows closed in heavy traffic to minimize extended exposure to loud noises surpassing 100 decibels.
- In order to safeguard your hearing, refrain from blasting music to mask traffic sounds.
- If operating a motorcycle or bicycle, purchase helmets developed to mitigate traffic noise.
- It’s important to keep a close watch on your hearing health, especially if you regularly drive with the windows open.
In conclusion, driving with windows open subjects you to various sources of noise, including engine and wind noise, likely impacting your hearing health.
By adopting preventative measures, you can safeguard your hearing while enjoying the freedom of open-road driving.
Contact us today if you are concerned about noise-related hearing loss.