Can driving with open windows lead to irreversible damage to your hearing? Does it save money on gas? Should you drive with your windows up or down? Here’s a new viewpoint on these questions.
Imagine this: It’s a peaceful early morning, the clock ticking at 7:45 AM. With the highway almost deserted, you cruise along at a relaxed 55 MPH, enjoying the cool breeze through your open windows. On such a picturesque day, running the car’s air conditioner seems excessive, doesn’t it? After all, why waste precious gas?
But here’s the question: Does driving with the windows down pose dangers to your hearing?
What the research says about driving with open windows
Think it’s not that loud? British researchers conducted tests using different makes of vehicles, ranging from Mazdas to Aston Martins, during times when there was less traffic, driving at speeds of 50, 60, and 70 miles per hour.
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 present a hazard of triggering lasting damage to one’s hearing?
Exposure to 85 decibels for 8 hours can result in permanent harm to one’s hearing.
Extended exposure to extremely loud noises, like those exceeding 100 decibels in congested traffic, can cause hearing loss in as little as 15 minutes.
What factors contribute increased noise with open windows?
While your car may seem loud, several factors can increase the decibel levels.
A guide to engines and vehicle styles
Most gas engines produce about 85 decibels of noise caused by the rapid explosions in their cylinders, representing roughly 80% of gas-powered automobiles. However, hybrids, electric cars, or smaller sized 4-cylinder engines might offer a quieter ride. On the other hand, sports cars such as Ferraris are capable of more than 100 decibels of noise, particularly when operating in lower gears.
Wind resistance
The whooshing and whistling sounds caused by wind passing over your car can dramatically increase the overall noise level, even in fairly quiet cars. At only 15 MPH, cyclists experience 85 dB of wind noise, and at 60 MPH that noise increases to 120 dB, according to recent studies. Given that cars experience even greater wind resistance, driving with windows down can certainly impact your hearing.
Traffic magnifies noise
Every car that drives by in multiple lanes adds to the total volume level. Besides the engine noise, you’re subjected to the wind resistance from passing cars, further increasing overall noise levels.
Tips for decreasing risks and ensuring safe driving
If you enjoy driving with windows down, think about these measures to reduce hearing loss threats:
- Take breaks during long drives, varying between windows open and closed.
- For convertible drivers, shutting the windows while keeping the top down can decrease sound to safer levels.
- Use smartphone applications to track the levels of noise in typical traffic situations (avoid utilizing them when operating a vehicle).
- Keep windows up in heavy traffic to avoid prolonged exposure to loud noises surpassing 100 decibels.
- In order to safeguard your hearing, refrain from blasting music to mask traffic sounds.
- When operating a motorcycle or bicycle, consider obtaining helmets that are specifically designed to reduce the effect of traffic noise.
- Regularly track your hearing health, especially if you’ve been repeatedly driving with windows down.
In summary, driving with windows open subjects you to numerous sources of noise, including engine and wind noise, potentially impacting your hearing health.
Taking measures to protect your ears can help you preserve your hearing while still enjoying the thrill of driving with the windows down.
Call us today if you are concerned about noise-related hearing loss.