According to research just published in the Journal of Laryngology and Otology, driving in a convertible with the top down may damage your hearing.
It’s one of the most enduring visions of the California lifestyle: a convertible with its top down, cruising along the open highway. You see it here almost any time of year, and the most serious consequence would seem to be sunburn. But a new study suggests otherwise.
According to research just published in the Journal of Laryngology and Otology, driving in a convertible with the top down may damage your hearing. Researchers at the St. Louis University School of Medicine and the Ear Institute of Texas collaborated on the study, and reported their findings in a paper called "Noise Exposure In Convertible Automobiles." The conclusion? If you routinely drive at more than 55 mph in your convertible with the top down, you might be subjecting your ears to unsafe noise levels.
The researchers compared the noise that drivers are exposed to in a convertible with the top down, compared to with the top up, at 55, 65, and 75 mph in five different vehicles. They found that each one produced excessive (85 dB) noise levels, as set by the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In fact, they found that drivers of convertibles with the top open may experience noise levels of 104 dB or more at highway speeds. To compare, a loud rock concert is 110-120 db, and the threshold of pain about 125 dB. While occasional use under such levels isn't likely to cause hearing loss, more frequent driving is risky. Ear plugs or noise-canceling headphones are not recommended because of safety concerns that the driver will be less aware of roadway noises as car horns and emergency vehicle sirens.
The researchers concluded that "Drivers should be advised to drive with the top closed when exceeding 53 mph. With their tops up, none of the tested cars exceeded the 85 decibel threshold. Convertible automobiles can be a source of noise exposure that exceeds recommended levels, especially for prolonged journeys with the top open on busy motorways. Closing the top provides substantial protection from noise exposure."