Motion sickness in rally car co-drivers

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Human Physiology
• Sports Science

Background:

• Motion sickness (MS) is a prevalent issue often linked to sensory conflict, particularly visuo-vestibular discrepancies.
• Predicting MS in specific occupational groups like rally co-drivers is crucial due to potential disability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of motion sickness (MS) in rally car co-drivers.
• To evaluate MS occurrence in various driving-related scenarios.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire was administered to 85 rally co-drivers (21 women) assessing MS symptoms.
• MS was investigated across four situations: special stages, reconnaissance, reading, and as a rear-seat passenger.
• Key risk factors associated with MS were also examined.

Main Results:

• MS prevalence increased from special stages (2.3%) to reconnaissance (15.3%), reading (25.9%), and as a rear-seat passenger (25.9%).
• Women reported higher MS than men only when in the rear-seat passenger situation.
• Major risk factors identified were stress (63.0%), on-board smells (46.5%), and temperature (43.0%).

Conclusions:

• Lower MS in special stages may stem from focused visual input and cognitive anticipation of accelerations.
• Reconnaissance involves gaze shifts and head movements that could induce Coriolis accelerations, increasing MS.
• Understanding these factors can inform strategies to mitigate motion sickness in high-acceleration environments.