Driving a convertible could be hazardous to health
January 5th, 2011 - 6:07 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Jan 5 (IANS) Driving a convertible with the top down could be hazardous to your health — exposing you to dangerous noise levels, claims a new study. Levels as high as 100 decibels were recorded at a speed of 75 mph which for long periods could lead to damage to hearing. Even at 55 mph, levels were above 85 dB, the equivalent to a construction site.
Road surface, other traffic, wind noise and driving speed - all contributed to the cacophony, the Journal of Laryngology and Otology reports.
Noise spikes - caused by passing cars, lorries and motorbikes - added to the danger, according to the Telegraph.
Researchers from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri in the US, carried out tests on five cars including a Porsche, Saab, Nissan and Ford and recorded the noise levels at 55 mph and 75 mph.
They found that at lower speed, sound levels regularly exceeded 88 dB, the equivalent of a diesel train passing or a construction site.
At higher speed, it could be the equivalent of a jet plane passing overhead or a nightclub.
Exposure to noise above 85 dB for prolonged periods is generally considered to damage hearing.
“We are recommending that drivers be advised to drive with the top closed when travelling for extended periods of time at speeds exceeding 85.3 kmph (52 mph),” said Anthony Mikulec from the St Louis University, who oversaw the study.
- Convertible drivers 'at noise-induced hearing loss risk' - Oct 07, 2009
- Shiv Sena hauled up for Dussehra rally noise pollution - Oct 18, 2010
- Traffic noise 'can increase stroke risk' - Jan 26, 2011
- Constant din can make you sick - Oct 09, 2009
- Rock concerns lead to impaired hearing? - May 23, 2012
- Popular toys could damage hearing of children - Dec 19, 2011
- Too much, too little noise erodes creativity - May 15, 2012
- Sound from MP3 players eclipses environmental noise - Dec 22, 2011
- Noisy workplaces make employees deaf - Mar 11, 2009
- Now, a bionic speech enhancement system to cut unwanted 'white noise' - Sep 10, 2010
- Construction on Bloodhound 'supercar' to begin this week - Feb 08, 2011
- Shiv Sena officials booked for noise pollution - Oct 07, 2011
- Birds chirping more loudly to be heard above city noise - Nov 11, 2009
- Pietersen won't be taking yellow Lamborghini for a Melbourne spin - Dec 23, 2010
- Delhi airport told to cut noise pollution - Oct 24, 2010
Tags: cacophony, dangerous noise levels, decibels, diesel train passing, jet plane, journal of laryngology and otology, laryngology and otology, london jan, long periods, lorries, medicine missouri, passing overhead, prolonged periods, road surface, saint louis university, saint louis university school of medicine, school of medicine, speed sound, st louis university, wind noise