Can driving with open windows cause permanent damage to your hearing? Is it more fuel-efficient? Should you go with closed or open windows while driving? Let’s take a new look at these issues.
Imagine this: It is a peaceful morning, with the clock reading 7:45 AM. As the freeway stretches out before you, nearly empty 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, running the car’s air conditioner seems unnecessary, doesn’t it? What’s the point of squandering valuable gas?
But the question is: Is driving with the windows rolled down potentially harmful to your ears?
What the research indicates about driving with open windows
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 hazard of triggering lasting harm to one’s hearing?
Exposure to 85 decibels for 8 hours can definitely cause permanent damage to one’s hearing.
Extended exposure to extremely loud noises, like those surpassing 100 decibels in congested traffic, can cause hearing loss in as little as 15 minutes.
What factors contribute escalated noise with open windows?
While your car may seem noisy, several factors can increase the decibel levels.
A guide to engines and automobile styles
The majority of gasoline-powered engines generate noise because of the swift combustion process occurring within their cylinders, which is a characteristic of about 80% of vehicles that run on gasoline. However, hybrids, electric cars, or smaller sized 4-cylinder engines may provide a quieter ride. On the other hand, sports cars such as Ferraris are capable of over 100 decibels of noise, particularly when driving in lower gears.
Wind resistance
The whooshing and hissing sounds caused by wind passing over your vehicle can dramatically increase the total noise level, even in fairly quiet cars. Studies have demonstrated that bicyclists face around 85 decibels of wind resistance at just 15 MPH, escalating to 120 decibels at 60 MPH. Given that cars experience even more wind resistance, driving with windows down can indeed impact your hearing.
Increased traffic results in louder noise
Every passing car, even on multi-lane highways, adds to noise amplification. Aside from the engine noise, you’re subjected to the wind resistance from passing cars, further increasing total noise levels.
Tips for decreasing risks and promoting safe driving
If you enjoy driving with windows down, consider these steps to minimize 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 decrease sound to safer levels.
- Use smartphone applications to track the levels of noise in regular traffic situations (steer clear of utilizing them when operating a vehicle).
- To prevent being exposed to loud noises over 100 decibels for an extended time period, it is recommended to keep your windows closed when driving in heavy traffic.
- Refrain from drowning out traffic noise with loud music, as it can worsen hearing damage.
- When operating a motorcycle or bicycle, consider obtaining helmets that are specifically designed to reduce the impact of traffic noise.
- Regularly track your hearing health, especially if you’ve been habitually driving with windows open.
Essentially, cruising with the windows open can subject you to a range of potentially harmful sounds, such as the rumble of the engine and rushing wind, which may pose a threat to your auditory well-being.
Taking measures to protect your ears can help you maintain your hearing while still taking pleasure in the thrill of driving with the windows open.
Contact us today if you are concerned about noise-related hearing loss.