Do you get car sick? If so, you’re not alone – this article from PA Motoring shows the results of an RAC survey showing that millions of people in the UK feel nausea from driving on country roads, sitting in the back seat, looking at their phone and other similar activities. If this is something that you can relate to, you can find out how to avoid car sickness with PA Motoring’s useful guide.
More than seven million UK adults suffer from travel sickness in the car, according to a new survey.
Motoring organisation the RAC quizzed 1,990 people on its Driver Opinion Panel and found that nearly one in five of them suffered from the problem – usually associated with youngsters – either as drivers or passengers.
That figure equates to 7.3 million adults based on there being 40.46m full driving licence holders.
Other findings of the survey will be familiar to anybody who’s ever had to deal with car sickness – either in themselves or a passenger. Of those affected, 75 per cent said they felt the worst nausea when in the back seat, while 12 per cent found the front seat to be the worst place. Seven per cent said it made no difference.
It’s not just location within the car that affects sickness levels either. Sixty-one per cent said that reading in the car made them feel the most nauseous, followed by 50 per cent who felt a mobile phone or tablet affected them worse.
More than a third – 37 per cent – blamed the sensation of a twisting country road for unsettling their stomach, while 32 per cent said it was a lack of ventilation.
Luckily, drivers appear to be an understanding bunch – whether that’s for the comfort of their passengers or the preservation of their upholstery. Thirty-seven per cent of drivers have taken a break to help a passenger alleviate their car sickness, and two per cent have abandoned or avoided journeys altogether.
Despite travel sickness being rather common, almost half (48 per cent) have never had medical help. Thirteen per cent have resorted to over-the-counter medication or alternative remedies such as eating ginger, while a desperate two per cent have sought the help of their doctor.
However, almost a quarter (24 per cent) say they simply have their own ways of coping with travel sickness. Suggested remedies involved closing their eyes, trying to sleep or focusing intently on the horizon.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “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.
“While people suffer from sickness to different degrees, there is a lot that passengers in particular can do to reduce the chances of feeling unwell while on the move.”
He suggested putting down any books or tablets, focusing on the horizon and winding down a window for a flow of fresh air.
“A smoother driving style can also pay dividends. Even if a driver doesn’t suffer sickness themselves, they could suffer some unfortunate consequences if they cause any of their passengers to become unwell simply because they are accelerating or braking too sharply,” he added.
This article was written by Tom Wiltshire from PA Motoring Service and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.
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