Can driving with open windows cause permanent damage to your hearing? Does it save on gas? Should you drive with your windows up or down? Here’s a fresh viewpoint on these questions.
Envision this: It is a peaceful morning, with the clock showing 7:45 AM. As the highway stretches before you, almost 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. Isn’t it excessive to run the car’s air conditioner on such a beautiful day? After all, why waste precious gas?
But here’s the question: Does driving with the windows open pose dangers to your hearing?
What are the potential risks linked to open window driving, according to research?
You don’t think it’s very loud. Researchers in the UK performed experiments with numerous 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.
Could this level of noise present a hazard of triggering lasting damage to one’s hearing?
Certainly, exposure to 85 decibels over an 8-hour time frame can lead to irreversible hearing loss.
Prolonged exposure to very loud noises, such as those surpassing 100 decibels in congested traffic, can cause impairment in as little as 15 minutes.
What factors cause a surge in noise levels when windows are down?
While your vehicle might seem noisy, several factors can exacerbate the decibel levels.
Engine and automobile types
The majority of gasoline-powered engines produce noise because of the swift combustion process happening inside of their cylinders, which is a characteristic of around 80% of automobiles that run on gasoline. A slightly quieter ride might be expected in hybrid vehicles or vehicles with smaller 4-cylinder engines. Alternatively, high-performance vehicles like Ferraris can produce over 100 decibels, especially in lower gears.
Resistance to Wind
Air rushing past your vehicle can generate noticeable hissing and whooshing noises, adding significantly to the overall ambient sound, even in cars known for their quiet ride. Studies have shown that bicyclists encounter about 85 decibels of wind resistance at only 15 MPH, escalating to 120 decibels at 60 MPH. Driving with the windows open can have a noticeable effect on your hearing, particularly since cars face increased wind resistance.
Increased traffic results in louder sounds
Every passing car, even on multi-lane freeways, adds to noise amplification. Aside from the engine noise, you’re subjected to the wind resistance from passing cars, further increasing overall noise levels.
Tips for reducing risks and ensuring safe driving
If you enjoy driving with windows open, consider these steps to decrease hearing loss threats:
- Take breaks when you are on long drives, alternating between windows open and closed.
- For convertible drivers, shutting the windows while keeping the top down can decrease sound to safer levels.
- Use smartphone applications to monitor the levels of noise in typical traffic conditions (steer clear of using them when driving a vehicle).
- Keep windows up in heavy traffic to minimize prolonged exposure to loud noises surpassing 100 decibels.
- Refrain from drowning out traffic noise with loud music, as it can exacerbate hearing damage.
- If operating a motorcycle or bicycle, purchase helmets developed to mitigate traffic noise.
- Regularly monitor your hearing health, especially if you’ve been habitually driving with windows down.
In conclusion, driving with windows down subjects you to various sources of noise, including engine and wind noise, potentially impacting your hearing health.
Taking steps to safeguard your ears can help you preserve your hearing while still enjoying the thrill of driving with the windows open.
Call us today if you are worried about noise-related hearing loss.