How Many Decibels Does a Car Horn Produce?
3 Answers
A car horn can cause instantaneous noise levels to exceed 70 decibels and approach 80 decibels, while the horns of larger vehicles can surpass 80 decibels. Noise poses significant harm to humans, especially sudden bursts of noise. Many local governments have regulations on car horn volumes. For example, in Chongqing, motor vehicles are strictly prohibited from using horns with volumes exceeding 95 decibels. The hazards of noise include: 1. It can cause ear discomfort such as tinnitus, ear pain, and hearing damage. Studies show that noise exceeding 115 decibels can lead to deafness. Clinical medical statistics indicate that living in an environment with noise levels above 80 decibels can result in deafness in up to 50% of cases. Medical experts suggest that household noise is one of the causes of deafness in children. 2. It reduces work efficiency: Research has found that noise levels above 85 decibels can cause irritability and distraction, making it difficult to focus on work and thereby reducing efficiency. 3. It damages cardiovascular health: Noise is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, accelerating heart aging and increasing the incidence of myocardial infarction.
To be honest, I helped my neighbor test his car horn last year. The average family car horn falls in the range of 100 to 110 decibels. Standing in front of the car, it sounds as ear-piercing as a power drill at a construction site. Nowadays, many cities have strict regulations—honking for more than 3 seconds in urban areas can result in a fine. If it's a modified high-powered air horn, it might even exceed 120 decibels. Honking one of those at midnight would have the whole street cursing. Some luxury cars come with adjustable horn volumes that can be kept under 90 decibels, which is actually quite suitable for residential areas. But then again, when it comes to emergencies, honking to save a life is far more important than worrying about decibel levels.
A friend who works in vehicle testing provided me with precise data: Domestic car horns must pass a 105-decibel test before leaving the factory, and in actual use, they typically range between 103-108 decibels. The EU standard sets the upper limit at 112 decibels, while the US standard is slightly more lenient at 115 decibels. Note that decibel levels decrease with distance—a measurement taken 1 meter in front of the car can differ by up to 20 decibels compared to one taken 5 meters away. Recently, several newly launched new energy vehicles have adopted directional sound wave technology, which focuses the sound in a specific direction, ensuring warning effectiveness while reducing noise pollution.
