Study Finds High-Speed Convertible Driving Hazardous To Hearing

[Gforrest2]

I wonder why they say earplugs don't work. As a motorcycle rider, I use earplugs all the time to protect from the wind noise.

[JTP]

Like we needed a study done to know that driving in a noisy open car was bad for our ears??!! Duh!
We should all trade our cars in for quiet Chevy Volts, stay completely out of the sun, and eat organic fair trade shade grown low sodium low cholestrol hippie food. And wear earmuffs to protect our ears.

[ChrisZang]

What?
Hand me my ear horn please

[connecticutporsche]

I guess to keep our hearing we need full f1 style race helmets…
interesting info.

[husker boxster]

Ohhh, now it makes sense. JoePa must be haulin a$$ in a convertible when out recruiting 5 stars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKAbbLLWRk0

[cvhs18472]

Please do not make a fool of JoePa as he does a he** of a good job himself. Ed

[husker boxster]

I know. I debated about linking that. He's a heck of a coach and you have to respect all that he's accomplished.

[AndyA6]

Originally Posted by JTP

Like we needed a study done to know that driving in a noisy open car was bad for our ears??!! Duh!
We should all trade our cars in for quiet Chevy Volts, stay completely out of the sun, and eat organic fair trade shade grown low sodium low cholestrol hippie food. And wear earmuffs to protect our ears.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS!

[Deserion]

Guess I'll just have to drive faster then.

[2TrunkSteve]

Bad for my hearing, good for my soul.

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Driving with the top down is an integral part of owning a Boxster. If it wasn't important to us we would own a Cayman. My wife and I enjoy a romp through the mountain twisties on our motorcycles almost as much as in our Boxsters.

To protect our hearing (yeah right like we consider that) we sometimes like to wear our full face helmets with built in two way com-links, and the radio turned up to 30.

I'll tell you something unexpected. Wearing the helmets gives us a freeing feeling that allows us to push the fun factors. I don't overdrime my abilities by any means, but there is a sence of freedom when driving and riding with helmets on that I don't have without a helmet on. That applies especially on the motorcycles.

Don't get me wrong here, yes I sometimes ride without my helmet, but when I go out knowing my plan is to ride hard, it is on for sure. My personal motorcycle safety ethic dictates to me to wear a helmet probably more than 95% of the time.

Besides, since I ride year round it keeps my head warm.

[ekam]

Originally Posted by Gforrest2

I wonder why they say earplugs don't work. As a motorcycle rider, I use earplugs all the time to protect from the wind noise.

Because sound waves can enter thru the skin and the area behind your ears. Plugs are not enough to stop all the noise that's why you need ear muffs.

[jcb986]

What did you say......

[Frodo]

The article didn't really say earplugs don't help...only that they also potentially block out sounds the driver, for safety reasons, might want/need to hear.

Personally, I don't drive for hours and hours at interstate speeds with the top down anyway. To me, it just gets a little fatiguing after awhile. I like top down driving in relatively short bursts, in select locations.

[lifeisgood]

WHAT.... I guess i need to save money on those modified mufflers and upgrade my stereos also. How about nagging wife on the passenger side? (JK honey).

and JTP [We should all trade our cars in for quiet Chevy Volts]

[Beelzy]

Meh, the noise only bothers me when traveling 100mph plus.

Firearm shooting took my perfect hearing long ago.

[chris97boxster]

As long as they don't ban making convertibles
to protect us from ourselves