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 new viewpoint on these questions.
Imagine this: It is a peaceful morning, with the clock showing 7:45 AM. With the highway almost deserted, you cruise along at a comfortable 55 MPH, savoring the cool breeze through your open windows. Isn’t it excessive to use the car’s air conditioner on such a beautiful day? What’s the point of wasting valuable gas?
But the question is: Is driving with the windows rolled down potentially hazardous to your ears?
What are the potential hazards linked to open window driving, according to research?
You don’t think it’s very 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.
Could this level of noise present a danger of causing long-term harm to one’s hearing?
Indeed, exposure to 85 decibels over an 8-hour period can result in permanent hearing loss.
In congested traffic conditions where exposure surpasses 100 decibels, hearing damage can occur within a mere 15 minutes.
What factors cause a surge in volume levels when windows are open?
Various elements can boost the sound levels even while your vehicle might already seem loud.
A guide to engines and vehicle styles
Most gas engines generate around 85 decibels of noise due to the rapid combustion in their cylinders, accounting for roughly 80% of gas-powered automobiles. A somewhat quieter ride might be expected in hybrid vehicles or vehicles with smaller 4-cylinder engines. On the other hand, sports cars like Ferraris are capable of over 100 decibels of noise, particularly when driving in lower gears.
Resistance to Wind
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. Studies have shown that cyclists face around 85 decibels of wind resistance at only 15 MPH, escalating to 120 decibels at 60 MPH. Driving with the windows down can have a noticeable impact on your hearing, especially since cars encounter increased wind resistance.
Heavier traffic results in louder noise
Every car that drives by in multiple lanes adds to the total volume level. Besides the engine noise, you’re subjected to the wind resistance from passing vehicles, further increasing overall noise levels.
How to reduce risks and ensure safe driving practices
If you like driving with windows down, consider these measures to reduce hearing loss threats:
- Take breaks during long drives, varying between 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 monitor the levels of noise in typical traffic situations (steer clear of utilizing 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 worsen hearing damage.
- If operating a motorcycle or bicycle, invest in helmets developed to reduce traffic noise.
- It’s important to keep a close watch on your hearing health, especially if you regularly drive with the windows open.
Essentially, driving with the windows rolled down can expose you to a range of potentially damaging sounds, such as the roar of the engine and rushing wind, which may pose a threat to your auditory well-being.
By embracing precautionary precaustions, you can safeguard your hearing while enjoying the freedom of open-road driving.
Call us today if you are concerned about noise-related hearing loss.