Can driving with open windows cause permanent harm to your hearing? Does it save on gas? Should you drive with your windows up or down? Let’s take a new look at these concerns.
Picture this: It’s a serene early morning, the clock ticking at 7:45 AM. As the highway stretches before you, almost empty of traffic, you settle into an unhurried pace of 55 miles per hour, feeling the refreshing wind flow in through your rolled-down windows. Isn’t it excessive to use the car’s air conditioner on such a lovely day? 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 indicates about driving with open windows
You don’t think it’s very loud. British scientists 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.
Their findings were consistent: irrespective of the vehicle model or speed, driving with windows down exposed the driver to a near-constant noise level of 89 decibels.
Does this noise level pose a danger of permanent hearing damage?
Certainly, exposure to 85 decibels over an 8-hour time frame can lead to irreversible hearing loss.
Prolonged exposure to extremely loud noises, like those surpassing 100 decibels in congested traffic, can result in hearing loss in as little as 15 minutes.
What contributes to escalated noise with open windows?
Numerous elements can boost the noise levels even while your vehicle may already seem noisy.
Engine and vehicle types
The majority of gasoline-powered engines produce noise as a result of the swift combustion process taking place within their cylinders, which is a characteristic of about 80% of automobiles that run on gasoline. A slightly quieter ride may be expected in hybrid vehicles or vehicles with smaller 4-cylinder engines. Alternatively, high-performance automobiles like Ferraris can generate over 100 decibels, especially in lower gears.
Resistance to Wind
Air rushing past your vehicle can generate noticeable whistling and whooshing noises, 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 greater wind resistance, driving with windows down can certainly impact your hearing.
Heavier traffic results in louder noise
Every car that goes by in multiple lanes increases the total noise level. Aside from the engine noise, you’re subjected to the wind resistance from passing cars, further increasing overall noise levels.
Tips for minimizing risks and promoting safe driving
Reduce the risk of hearing loss while driving with windows down by following these measures.
- Take breaks when you are on long drives, varying between windows up and down.
- For convertible owners, closing the windows while keeping the top down can decrease sound to safer volumes.
- Use smartphone applications to track the levels of noise in typical traffic conditions (steer clear of utilizing them when operating a vehicle).
- Keep windows up in heavy traffic to minimize prolonged 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, invest in helmets designed to mitigate traffic noise.
- Regularly track your hearing health, particularly if you’ve been habitually driving with windows open.
Essentially, cruising with the windows rolled down can expose you to a range of potentially damaging sounds, including the rumble of the engine and rushing wind, which may pose a threat to your auditory health.
By adopting preventative measures, you can safeguard your hearing while enjoying the freedom of open-road driving.
Contact us today if you are worried about noise-related hearing loss.