Can driving with open windows cause irreversible damage to your hearing? Does it save on gas? Should you drive with your windows up or down? Let’s take a fresh look at these concerns.
Picture this: It’s a peaceful early morning, the clock ticking at 7:45 AM. As the highway stretches before you, nearly empty of traffic, you settle into an unhurried pace of 55 miles per hour, feeling the refreshing wind rush in through your rolled-down windows. On such a beautiful day, using the car’s air conditioner seems unnecessary, doesn’t it? What’s the point of wasting valuable fuel?
But the question is: Is driving with the windows rolled down potentially hazardous to your ears?
What the research says about driving with open windows
Think it’s not that loud? Researchers in the UK conducted experiments with various vehicles, from Mazdas to Aston Martins, during non-peak hours at speeds of 50, 60, and 70 MPH.
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.
Does this noise level present a risk of irreversible hearing damage?
Exposure to 85 decibels for 8 hours can definitely result in permanent harm to one’s hearing.
Prolonged exposure to extremely loud noises, such as those surpassing 100 decibels in congested traffic, can result in hearing loss in as little as 15 minutes.
What factors contribute escalated noise with open windows?
While your vehicle may seem noisy, several factors can exacerbate the decibel levels.
Engine and vehicle types
The majority of gasoline-powered engines produce noise because of the swift combustion process occurring inside of their cylinders, which is a characteristic of about 80% of automobiles that run on gasoline. However, hybrids, electric cars, or smaller 4-cylinder engines may provide a quieter ride. Conversely, high-performance vehicles like Ferraris can generate over 100 decibels, particularly in lower gears.
Wind resistance
Air rushing past your vehicle can produce noticeable whistling and whooshing noises, contributing substantially to the total 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. Driving with the windows down can have a noticeable impact on your hearing, particularly since cars face increased wind resistance.
Heavier traffic results in louder noise
Every car that drives by in multiple lanes adds to the overall volume level. Along with the noise of the engine, you are also exposed to the rush of air produced by other vehicles passing by, which adds to a louder overall environment.
How to reduce risks and ensure safe driving strategies
Reduce the threat of hearing loss while driving with windows open by following these guidelines.
- Remember to take breaks while on long road trips by going between having the windows up and down.
- One way for drivers of convertibles to reduce noise exposure is to roll up the windows while keeping the roof open.
- Use smartphone applications to monitor the levels of noise in regular traffic conditions (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 mask traffic sounds.
- If operating a motorcycle or bicycle, invest in helmets developed to reduce traffic noise.
- Regularly monitor your hearing health, particularly if you’ve been habitually driving with windows open.
Essentially, driving with the windows open can subject you to a range of potentially damaging sounds, such as the rumble of the engine and rushing wind, which may pose a threat to your auditory health.
Taking steps to safeguard your ears can help you maintain your hearing while still taking pleasure in the pleasure of driving with the windows down.
Contact us today if you are worried about noise-related hearing loss.