Driving with the top down "bad for your ears"

Driving along an open road with the top down in a racy little convertible may be a bit of a fantasy here in cold, wet and busy Britain, but it seems it is also a danger for your hearing, according to a new study.

Scientists in the sunshine state of California have found that driving in an open topped vehicle at speeds between 50 and 70 mph exposes your ears to noise levels between 88 and 90 decibels (dB). This is higher than the 85 dB level at which permanent hearing damage becomes a risk.

But simply rolling up the windows can be enough to cut the noise level to a more acceptable (but still ear shattering) 82 dB.

Experts warn that damage to hearing can build up gradually, so constant exposure to elevated noise levels can lead to problems later in life.

As well as putting up windows, drivers of convertibles can use ear plugs to cut down noise levels - a practice adopted by many motorbike riders. But this may also reduce the driver’s ability to hear what is going on in the traffic around them.

It's also not very rock and roll!

This article was published on Thu 8 October 2009