Can driving with open windows lead to permanent damage 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 is a peaceful morning, with the clock showing 7:45 AM. As the highway stretches before you, nearly free of traffic, you settle into a leisurely pace of 55 miles per hour, feeling the refreshing wind flow in through your rolled-down windows. On such a beautiful day, running the car’s air conditioner seems unnecessary, doesn’t it? What’s the point of wasting valuable gas?
But here’s the question: Does driving with the windows down pose risks to your hearing?
What are the potential hazards linked to open window driving, according to research?
You don’t think it’s very loud. British scientists carried out trials using different makes of vehicles, ranging from Mazdas to Aston Martins, at times when there was minimal traffic, traveling 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.
Could this volume of noise present a danger 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 heavy traffic conditions where exposure surpasses 100 decibels, hearing damage can occur within a mere 15 minutes.
What contributes to increased noise with open windows?
Various aspects can boost the noise levels even while your vehicle might already seem loud.
A guide to engines and automobile styles
The majority of gasoline-powered engines produce noise because of the swift combustion process occurring within their cylinders, which is a characteristic of about 80% of automobiles that use gasoline. A somewhat quieter ride may be expected in hybrid vehicles or vehicles with smaller 4-cylinder engines. Alternatively, high-performance automobiles like Ferraris can produce more than 100 decibels, particularly in lower gears.
Wind resistance
Air rushing past your vehicle can produce noticeable hissing and whooshing sounds, adding substantially 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 volume rises to 120 dB, according to recent studies. 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 overall 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 ensuring safe driving
If you like driving with windows down, consider these measures to decrease hearing loss risks:
- Don’t forget to take breaks while on long road trips by switching between having the windows up and down.
- For convertible drivers, shutting the windows while keeping the top down can reduce sound to safer volumes.
- Use smartphone applications to track the levels of noise in regular traffic situations (steer clear of using them when operating a vehicle).
- Keep windows up in heavy traffic to avoid extended exposure to loud noises exceeding 100 decibels.
- In order to safeguard your hearing, avoid blasting music to hide traffic sounds.
- If operating a motorcycle or bicycle, purchase helmets designed to mitigate traffic noise.
- Regularly track your hearing health, especially if you’ve been habitually driving with windows open.
In summary, driving with windows open exposes you to numerous sources of noise, including engine and wind noise, potentially impacting your hearing health.
By embracing preventative measures, you can protect your hearing while enjoying the freedom of open-road driving.
Get in touch with us today if you are worried about noise-related hearing loss.