Is driving with the windows down detrimental to your hearing? Is it more fuel-efficient? Should you opt for closed or open windows when you’re driving? Here’s a fresh viewpoint on these questions.
Imagine this: It’s a peaceful early morning, the clock ticking at 7:45 AM. As the highway stretches before you, almost empty of traffic, you settle into a leisurely pace of 55 miles per hour, feeling the invigorating wind rush in through your rolled-down windows. On such a beautiful day, using the car’s air conditioner seems unnecessary, doesn’t it? After all, why waste valuable gas?
But here’s the question: Does driving with the windows open pose dangers to your hearing?
What the research indicates about driving with open windows
Think it’s not very loud? British scientists conducted trials using different types 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 level of noise create a hazard of triggering lasting harm to one’s hearing?
Certainly, exposure to 85 decibels over an 8-hour time frame can lead to permanent hearing loss.
In congested traffic conditions where exposure surpasses 100 decibels, hearing damage can occur within a mere 15 minutes.
What factors contribute increased noise with open windows?
While your car might seem noisy, several factors can exacerbate the decibel levels.
A guide to engines and vehicle styles
The majority of gasoline-powered engines generate noise as a result of the swift combustion process taking place inside of their cylinders, which is a characteristic of around 80% of vehicles that use gasoline. However, hybrids, electric cars, or smaller 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, especially when driving in lower gears.
Resistance to Wind
Air rushing past your vehicle can generate noticeable whistling and whooshing sounds, adding significantly to the overall ambient sound, even in cars recognized for their quiet ride. At only 15 MPH, cyclists are exposed to 85 dB of wind noise, and at 60 MPH that volume rises to 120 dB, according to recent research. Given that automobiles experience even greater wind resistance, driving with windows down can indeed 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 vehicles, further increasing total noise levels.
Tips for reducing risks and ensuring safe driving
If you like driving with windows down, consider these steps to reduce hearing loss risks:
- Take breaks during long drives, varying between windows up and down.
- For convertible drivers, closing the windows while keeping the top down can decrease sound to safer volumes.
- Use cell phone apps to monitor noise levels in regular traffic conditions (never while driving).
- To avoid being exposed to loud noises over 100 decibels for an extended period of time, it is recommended to keep your windows closed when driving in heavy traffic.
- Avoid drowning out traffic noise with loud music, as it can worsen hearing damage.
- If operating a motorcycle or bicycle, purchase helmets developed to reduce traffic noise.
- It’s essential to keep a close watch on your hearing health, especially if you frequently drive with the windows open.
Essentially, driving with the windows rolled down can expose you to a range of potentially harmful sounds, such as the rumble of the engine and rushing wind, which may pose a threat to your auditory health.
By adopting precautionary precaustions, you can protect your hearing while enjoying the freedom of open-road driving.
Get in touch with us today if you are concerned about noise-related hearing loss.