How come I only get carsick when it's someone else driving?

The Big Red Button

I'm genuinely curious as to whether there's a medical explanation for this!

I get nauseous if I'm a passenger in a car for any length of time, but if I'm driving myself I can drive for hours and I'm grand!

Anyone?

Random

You're concentrating on other things when you're driving and you're easier able to anticipate turns / bumps / speed changes / whatever?

My less than medical opinion though.

metrovelvet

My suspicion is that when you are driving you have to keep your eyes focused ahead.

Ive noticed that I get car sick if Im a passanger in a car and reading at the same time.

congo_90

Are you texting and stuff? If your concentrating on things close up like the lines on the road etc running by your door you will induce motion sickness... yummy

bleg

metrovelvet wrote: »

Ive noticed that I get car sick if Im a passanger in a car and reading at the same time.

Me too. It's because your eyes are focusing on the page telling your brain that everything is fine and steady but your vestibular apparatus is telling your brain that your are moving all over the shop. Your brain gets confused and makes you vomit!

Bottle_of_Smoke

Basically your eyesight is telling you one thing but your body motions are telling you another. The conflict can cause nausea.

It doesn't happen when you're driving because you know exactly where you're going and your body/eyesight tell you the same thing

If you sit in the front passenger seat and watch where the car is going it won't happen near as much

Bottle_of_Smoke

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_sickness