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A fifth of people suffer from car sickness

Car sickness - RAC

New research by the RAC has revealed that motion sickness doesn’t just affect children with the equivalent of 7.3m people (18%) not growing out of it and continuing to suffer as adults.

Sitting in the back seat of a car appears to be the worst place for car sickness and nausea, with 75% of present sufferers saying that is the main place they feel queasy.

Twelve per cent of those surveyed say being a front seat passenger brings on the unpleasant feelings, while for one in 20 it’s either driving or being a passenger that makes them feel unwell. Seven per cent say there is no pattern to their motion sickness.

The top reason people gave for feeling sick is reading in the car (61%), followed by using a tablet or phone (50%) – clearly things that should never be attempted as a driver.

Best driving road - Cheddar Gorge

 

Nearly four in 10 (37%) blame winding country roads while a third (32%) say it’s a lack of fresh air that causes them to feel nauseous – with a similar proportion (30%) saying simply not looking out of the window can trigger the feeling.

More than a third of drivers (37%) say they have even had to take a break as a result of someone feeling unwell in the car, with 2% having to abandon journeys or even avoid them altogether.

While the vast majority of past and present sufferers (48%) have never sought medical help for motion sickness, more than one in 10 (13%) have either used over-the-counter medicine or an alternative remedy like using travel bands or eating ginger to try to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms. A desperate 2% meanwhile have turned to their doctor for help.

But a significant proportion (24%) say they have their own means of coping with the feeling of nausea, and rely on closing their eyes, trying to sleep or focusing intently on the horizon in order to feel better.

On the plus side, nearly a quarter drivers (24%) said that they used to suffer from car sickness, but later grew out of the condition.

“While car sickness is often associated with younger children, our research suggests it still remains a problem for a substantial number of older drivers and passengers,” said the RAC’s Rod Dennis.

“While people suffer from sickness to different degrees, there is a lot passengers in particular can do to reduce the chances of feeling unwell while on the move.

“Interestingly, our research also found that a small proportion (3%) of drivers say they suffer from potentially-debilitating migraines while in the car – something we would suggest sufferers talk to their GP about.”

Top tips for avoiding car sickness

  1. Ditch the devices: If you’re travelling with children, it can be appealing to give them a tablet or phone to keep them occupied on a long journey – but they are much more likely to feel unwell if you do. Try some games that mean they need to keep looking out of the window, like I-Spy or Pub Cricket
  2. Keep the air flowing: A quarter of current car sickness sufferers say it is a car being too hot and stuffy that makes them feel unwell. Use air conditioning, or keep the windows open, to create a better in-car environment for everyone
  3. Have a light meal before travelling: A lack of food, as well as too much of it, can lead to car sickness so try to ensure you and your passengers set off with something in your stomachs
  4. Drive smoothly, especially on country roads: Drive with a light right foot, braking and accelerating smoothly, to keep things comfortable for your passengers
  5. Try to avoid winding routes: Where it’s possible, consider driving on wider, straighter roads that give all your occupants a good view of the horizon

About Gareth Herincx

Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who's worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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