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Dizziness, headache and vomiting instead of a car ride and new sights: So-called motion sickness is not actually a disease, but it can significantly impair driving pleasure. It includes all the symptoms that occur as the body’s response to movements and accelerations.
According to estimates, about 25 to 30 percent of people regularly suffer from symptoms. And soon there will be much more: Electric and self-driving cars are more likely to make us sick from traveling than internal combustion engines.
eyes on the horizon
Motion sickness occurs when the eyes and vestibular system receive conflicting information about the body’s position in space. Doctor Esther Kunzli, co-director of the Center for Tropical and Travel Medicine, knows this. “For example, in the back seat of a car, the eye sees a fixed horizon with the headrests open – but the sense of balance notices that the body is moving.”
The brain is overwhelmed, the symptoms appear. Children up to adolescence are particularly often affected as they are not yet able to properly process various sensory impressions. It almost never happens to the person behind the wheel because their eyes are always on the road – their brain knows that a bend is coming and can correctly classify the movement stimulus.
According to Künzli, motion sickness can be prevented to some extent by paying attention to the horizon: As a passenger, you should also look at the road instead of focusing on your cell phone or the front seat. Medicines against travel sickness should be used with caution, depending on the planned activity, as they can tire you out.
Handlebars on both hands and feet
According to Blick car editor Andreas Faust (42), the reason you have to reach for the bag in electric cars is higher torque: “E-cars respond to accelerator pedal commands much faster and with better grip.” Acceleration and braking become more severe, the brain needs to coordinate perception and stabilize even faster.
But Faust says it’s up to the driver—or rather, his feet—to make sure occupants get sick: “Anyone who steers too hard or who accelerates and brakes hard all the time can develop motion sickness.” Smoking in the car also increases the likelihood of developing symptoms.
Self-driving, so-called autonomous cars are not yet available to the general public. According to Prognos research, they could only be installed as of 2040. When the time comes, we will inevitably need to be prepared for more travel sickness: “If you’re getting behind the wheel yourself, you’re ready for the car to move – you started it yourself and can adapt to it.” says Faust. On the other hand, if you’re a passenger or sitting in an autonomous car, you’ll get sick more quickly because steering wheel movements or acceleration come unexpectedly.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
