Can driving with open windows lead to permanent harm 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.
Picture this: It’s a peaceful early morning, the clock ticking at 7:45 AM. As the freeway stretches out 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. Isn’t it excessive to run the car’s air conditioner on such a lovely day? 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 really loud. British researchers conducted trials using different makes of vehicles, ranging from Mazdas to Aston Martins, at times when there was minimal 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 create a danger of triggering lasting damage to one’s hearing?
Indeed, exposure to 85 decibels over an 8-hour period can result in irreversible hearing loss.
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 open?
Various aspects can increase the noise levels even while your vehicle might already seem loud.
A guide to engines and vehicle styles
The majority of gasoline-powered engines produce noise because of the swift combustion process happening within their cylinders, which is a characteristic of around 80% of vehicles that run on gasoline. 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 over 100 decibels of noise, particularly when operating in lower gears.
Wind resistance
The whooshing and whistling sounds caused by wind passing over your vehicle can considerably increase the total noise level, even in relatively quiet cars. At only 15 MPH, cyclists experience 85 dB of wind noise, and at 60 MPH that volume increases to 120 dB, according to recent research. Driving with the windows open can have a noticeable impact on your hearing, particularly since cars face increased wind resistance.
Traffic amplifies noise
Every car that drives by in multiple lanes adds to the overall volume level. In addition to the noise of the engine, you are also exposed to the rush of air produced by other cars passing by, which contributes to a louder overall environment.
How to reduce risks and ensure safe driving strategies
Reduce the risk of hearing loss while driving with windows open by following these steps.
- Remember to take breaks while on long road trips by going between having the windows up and down.
- For convertible drivers, closing the windows while keeping the top down can decrease sound to safer volumes.
- Utilize smartphone apps to keep track of noise levels in regular traffic conditions (never while driving).
- Keep windows closed in heavy traffic to avoid extended exposure to loud noises surpassing 100 decibels.
- In order to safeguard your hearing, avoid blasting music to hide traffic sounds.
- If riding a motorcycle or bicycle, invest in helmets developed to reduce traffic noise.
- It’s important to keep a close watch on your hearing health, particularly if you regularly drive with the windows open.
Essentially, cruising with the windows open can subject you to a range of potentially harmful sounds, including the roar of the engine and rushing wind, which may pose a risk to your auditory well-being.
Taking measures to protect your ears can help you maintain your hearing while still taking pleasure in the pleasure of driving with the windows down.
Call us today if you are worried about noise-related hearing loss.