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Why I always wear ear plugs (and now I’m legal)

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For years, I’ve violated the law every time I rode my motorcycle near my home in Ohio. That’s because the same Ohio government that advised you that riding a motorcycle without ear plugs would cause hearing loss also had a law on the books making it illegal to wear earplugs.

In 90 days, that ridiculousness officially ends. Governor Mike DeWine today signed a bill that has been in the works for the last two years, pushed by Ohio motorcyclists. It allows the use of earplugs or earphones for the purpose of protecting our hearing.  

The thing is, I always wear earplugs, every time I ride. For short trips around town, that’s for comfort. For longer trips, it’s essential. Normal wind noise at highway speeds for more than 20 minutes will cause hearing damage. Even the Ohio handbook for drivers warned of that, but the law still made using hearing protection illegal.

That foolish law, finally changed, was based on misconceptions. There are a lot of misconceptions out there.

Myths about wearing earplugs

  • I don’t have a loud exhaust so I don’t need hearing protection. Most of the noise you hear on the motorcycle, especially at highway speeds, is wind noise. That’s the same no matter how your motorcycle is equipped.
  • I’ll get a quiet helmet so I don’t need earplugs. Even the quietest full-face helmets allow wind noise above 100 decibels, which will cause permanent damage. Actual noise levels can vary a lot, depending on speed, what kind of windscreen or other airflow management is on the bike, and other factors.
  • I don’t go on long rides so I don’t need hearing protection. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, permanent hearing loss can result from exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute, 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes, or prolonged exposure to 90 decibels.
  • If I wear earplugs I won’t be able to hear sirens. By reducing the overall volume of noise, your ears will be better able to discern individual sounds. They won’t be overwhelmed with noise. I’ve never had trouble hearing a siren.
  • Earplugs aren’t comfortable. True, sometimes they aren’t. That just means you need to find others that are. A huge variety of plugs are available, from simple foam to silicone baffles to custom-molded pieces. There’s a size, shape and material for everyone.

As I’ve written before, as someone who does some long trips, I know I’m a safer, much more comfortable rider for wearing hearing protection. I arrive much less fatigued. Constant noise is tiring. It’s literally a headache.

And that’s just the short-term issue. Long-term, you’re losing your hearing any time you’re riding for more than 20 minutes or so without protection, and what you lose you can’t get back.

I’ve always worn earplugs and always recommend them. I’m just grateful I no longer have to worry about getting a ticket for it.

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