Is driving with the windows down detrimental to your hearing? Is it more fuel-efficient? Should you go with closed or open windows when you’re driving? Let’s take a fresh look at these issues.
Imagine this: It’s a serene early morning, the clock ticking at 7:45 AM. As the freeway stretches out before you, almost free of traffic, you settle into an unhurried pace of 55 miles per hour, feeling the refreshing wind flow in through your rolled-down windows. On such a picturesque day, using the car’s air conditioner seems excessive, doesn’t it? What’s the point of wasting valuable fuel?
But here’s the question: Does driving with the windows open pose risks to your hearing?
What the research indicates about driving with open windows
You don’t think it’s really loud. Researchers in the UK carried out 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 danger of permanent hearing damage?
Exposure to 85 decibels for 8 hours can cause irreversible harm to one’s hearing.
In congested traffic conditions where exposure surpasses 100 decibels, hearing damage can occur within a mere 15 minutes.
What factors cause a rise in noise levels when windows are open?
While your car might seem noisy, a number of factors can exacerbate the decibel levels.
Engine and vehicle types
The majority of gasoline-powered engines produce noise because of the swift combustion process happening within their cylinders, which is a characteristic of about 80% of vehicles that use gasoline. However, hybrids, electric cars, or smaller sized 4-cylinder engines may offer a quieter ride. Conversely, high-performance automobiles like Ferraris can generate over 100 decibels, particularly in lower gears.
Resistance to Wind
The whooshing and hissing sounds caused by wind passing over your vehicle can considerably increase the total noise level, even in fairly quiet cars. At only 15 MPH, cyclists experience 85 dB of wind noise, and at 60 MPH that noise rises to 120 dB, according to recent studies. Given that automobiles experience even greater wind resistance, driving with windows open can certainly impact your hearing.
Heavier traffic results in louder sounds
Every car that drives by in multiple lanes increases the overall noise level. In addition to the sound of the engine, you are also exposed to the rush of air created by other cars passing by, which adds to a louder overall environment.
Tips for minimizing risks and promoting safe driving
Decrease the risk of hearing loss while driving with windows down 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 reduce sound to safer levels.
- Use smartphone applications to track the levels of noise in typical traffic situations (steer clear of using them when operating a vehicle).
- Keep windows up in heavy traffic to minimize prolonged exposure to loud noises surpassing 100 decibels.
- To protect your hearing, refrain from blasting music to mask traffic sounds.
- When operating a motorcycle or bicycle, consider obtaining helmets that are especially designed to reduce the impact of traffic noise.
- Regularly track your hearing health, especially if you’ve been repeatedly driving with windows down.
Essentially, driving with the windows rolled down can subject you to a range of potentially harmful sounds, such as the roar of the engine and rushing wind, which might pose a risk to your auditory well-being.
By adopting preventative precaustions, 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.