Christmas pressies that make us sick

A new scientific study, entitled 'Motors in Motion', by esure car insurance and Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) reveals that far from keeping motorists focused and restless passengers entertained, digital devices increase the likelihood of carsickness by creating a conflicting sense of balance - just like reading books or maps in moving cars.

The motion sensed by the eyes gives the impression that watching a small display with moving images is in fact not moving; however it is the organs of balance in the inner ear which indicate that they are moving. This combined with the motion of a moving and braking car creates a highly unnatural feeling for humans that 'tricks' the brain into reacting as if poisoning has occurred. Motion sickness is thought to be the result of a mechanism that evolved to rid the body of poison - even though none are present.

Unfortunately it's bad news for parents looking for peace at the wheel. The report reveals that a third (33 per cent) of Brits have vomited in a car by the time they reach the age of 12 (5). This age group is highly susceptible to carsickness and is also likely to be the largest users of in-car entertainment devices.

Worse still is that the 'Motors in Motion' report also reveals that traditional games, long considered 'remedies' for carsickness requiring children to watch objects in the passing scenery such as I Spy, Count the Cows and Spot the Car, may actually make things worse. This is due to the fact that carsickness tends to be greater when the head is free to move, whereas a stable head position reduces its likelihood (6).

This means that restless, fidgety kids and impatient passengers in the backseat are the most likely to suffer as maintaining a fixed head position and an unobstructed forward view are the best way to avoid the sense of carsickness.

With 37 per cent of those polled already owning a Sat Nav system and a further 11 per cent having either received one or given one as a gift this Christmas, it is bad news for the driver as well, with the report showing that it is not just the passenger at risk from 'modern technology motion sickness'. Drivers using satellite navigation systems are also more susceptible to motion sickness due to increased head movement.

[B]Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting[/B] at esure car insurance comments: "As well as being an inconvenience, carsickness can be dangerous especially if it causes the driver to avert their attention away from the road. With handheld games and in-car gadgetry being popular gifts this Christmas, motorists should be aware of potential 'side-effects' of in-car entertainment.

"Drivers and passengers need to understand what steps to take to prevent carsickness in order to make their journeys more pleasant and the roads safer."

[B]Dr Cyriel Diels, Human Factors researcher at TRL[/B] added: "Parents will often spend a large amount of money on in-car entertainment items such as hand-held consoles and DVD players to make long journeys more endurable. Yet it is these items that actually increase the risk of carsickness. Parents should be aware of this, especially if their children are prone to car sickness.

"The best advice is to try and prevent it from happening in the first place by following some simple steps. However, if you do begin to feel sick, it's best to focus on the horizon, breath slowly and deeply, and if possible, take a break from your journey, as remedies such as acupressure bands, sucking a sweet and opening car windows just won't work."

[B]Key findings from the [I]'Motors in Motion'[/I] report[/B]:

* In-vehicle entertainment systems increase the likelihood of carsickness

* A third (33 per cent) of people have vomited in cars by the time they reach the age of 12; making children aged 2 to 12 most susceptible to suffering. This age group is also the largest user of in-car entertainment devices

* Common 'remedies' such as opening the window for fresh air, acupressure bands, use of root ginger or even the old classic of 'sucking a sweet' are all unproven solutions

* A smooth driving style not only reduces fuel consumption but reduces the likelihood of carsickness

[B]Practical tips to prevent passengers from feeling carsick:[/B]

* The leading recommendation for avoiding in-car queasiness is to maintain a clear view of the road ahead. If possible, sit in the front seat and look forward at the horizon rather than sideways. If there isn't a clear view of the road, it is advisable for passengers to keep their eyes closed

* Allow small children on the rear seats a good view by raising the height of the child and find a position where the forward view is not obstructed by a seat or a head restraint

* Some sufferers may find it beneficial to wear sunglasses as they reduce visual stimulation

* Avoid games that require passengers to look inside the car, such as hand-held video consoles, especially with children who are particularly susceptible to motion sickness

* Never travel on an empty stomach, but avoid heavy meals before travelling and stay clear of nauseating foods such as sweets, fatty or spicy foods and sour fruits

* Storytelling, question-and-answer games, listening to audio books or having a sing-along are all effective methods of keeping passengers entertained rather than nauseous. Avoid reading and writing

* Driving on fairly straight roads and avoiding windy roads will reduce the risk of motion sickness, so it's advisable to choose a route of motorways and dual carriageways where possible. Take regular breaks throughout the journey

* Avoid aggressive driving, such as excessive acceleration, braking and cornering, as this triggers nausea - particularly for rear-seat passengers. Maintain a smooth driving style

* Avoid travelling at high temperatures. Make sure the air conditioning is set to a comfortable temperature

* Fresh air itself is not sufficient to prevent motion sickness, but the provision of good ventilation can make people feel more comfortable so open the windows

* Controlled regular breathing can help to increase motion tolerance

[B]About esure:[/B]

esure was launched in 2001. The company offers car, home, pet and travel insurance over the internet and by phone. esure also offers car insurance cover through the brands Halifax, Sainsbury's, Sheilas' Wheels and more recently home insurance through the Sheilas' Wheels brand.

[B]About TRL:[/B]

* TRL provides independent and impartial world class research, consultancy, advice and testing for all aspects of transport

* Originally established in 1933 as part of the UK Government, TRL privatised in 1996 to become a fully independent private company. TRL is wholly owned by the Transport Research Foundation (TRF), a non-profit distributing foundation with no share holders, enabling profits made by TRL to be passed to TRF and re-invested in scientific research. TRF is comprised of over 80 sector members from the transport industry ensuring TRL continues to undertake the high quality research it is renowned for

* TRL is committed to working with a wide range of customers in both the public and private sectors to create the future of transport. Our 500 staff, many of whom are world recognised experts, work at the cutting edge of transport, generating innovative solutions to customers on a wide range of projects from transportation to safety and environmental issues, risk and infrastructure management to simulation and testing.

[B]About Dr Cyriel Diels, Human Factors researcher at TRL:[/B]

Author, Dr Cyriel Diels, has a scientific background in Psychonomics and vision. Following his Masters from Utrecht University (the Netherlands), he studied self-motion perception and motion sickness at Loughborough University and was awarded a PhD in Human Biology in 2007. As an invited researcher at Waseda University (Tokyo), he conducted studies into the effect of gaze behaviour on visually induced motion sickness, better known as simulator sickness. Cyriel joined the Human Factors and Simulation group at TRL in 2007 and has been working on a variety of naturalistic driving and carsimulator studies, as well as consultancy projects. An important focus in his work is the interaction between drivers and their environment, multimodal perception, and simulation. Cyriel's work has resulted in a number of internationally published articles and conference papers. Cyriel is a member of the ISO workgroup (Road vehicles - Man Machine Interaction), Applied Vision Association (AVA), Midlands Vision Group (MVG), and Ergonomics Society. He further acts as journal referee for various journals including 'Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments', 'Displays', 'Transport', and 'European Transport Research Review'.

Credits: JRC