Wind noise inside motorcycle helmets may be damaging your hearing, according to a report released Friday by the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. The report is certain to set off another round in the debate about mandatory helmet laws. But for riders who prefer to wear helmets whether they're required or not, it provides one more reason for wearing ear plugs.
Ear plugs have long been promoted as a desirable choice to help protect your hearing. While they block out a lot of noise, they do not impair a rider's ability to hear traffic and other important sounds. Many riders have worn them routinely for years, and the study's findings suggest that that's a very good idea.
The study, "Aeroacoustic Sources of Motorcycle Helmet Noise," was conducted by researchers at the University of Bath and Bath Spa University, in England. They found that the noise "generated by air whooshing over the riders' helmets" can exceed safe levels, even at legal speeds.
Testing was done using mannequins with microphones attached at various locations in the helmets. Future testing is planned using live riders on the open road. The researchers expect their data will be used by helmet manufacturers in the future to design quieter helmets.
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