First Day Driving to Work - Got Motion Sickness

[uclacyc]

I just took delivery of my Elise on Saturday (!), and I drove it to the exotic car meet at Santana Row with no problems, since it was all freeway driving. But after driving it through the canyons on the way to work, I felt like bleh and got major motion sickness, which usually never happens to me when I sail.

Is this something common, like I need to get my Lotus legs (as in sea legs), or do I need to man-up?

I saw an older thread on motion sickness, but the electronic ReliefBands are no longer being manufactured. Maybe I should try one of those cheapo acupressure bands at my local drug store.

[def]

Don't drink so much the night before

[Conan]

Originally Posted by uclacyc

I just took delivery of my Elise on Saturday (!), and I drove it to the exotic car meet at Santana Row with no problems, since it was all freeway driving. But after driving it through the canyons on the way to work, I felt like bleh and got major motion sickness, which usually never happens to me when I sail.

Is this something common, like I need to get my Lotus legs (as in sea legs), or do I need to man-up?

I saw an older thread on motion sickness, but the electronic ReliefBands are no longer being manufactured. Maybe I should try one of those cheapo acupressure bands at my local drug store.

The first thing to try is looking further down the road. A very common mistake for the vast majority of drivers is focusing too close to the car. You should be scanning various distances all the time, but the average distance you focus on should be several HUNDRED feet in front of you. If you focus on a point way ahead, that should eliminate most of the problem.

[uclacyc]

Originally Posted by Conan

The first thing to try is looking further down the road. A very common mistake for the vast majority of drivers is focusing too close to the car. You should be scanning various distances all the time, but the average distance you focus on should be several HUNDRED feet in front of you. If you focus on a point way ahead, that should eliminate most of the problem.

That's weird, I've been driving for over a decade, and I've never had this problem before. Then again, I've been driving mid-sized sedans most of my life.

Maybe it's the Multivex Mirrors. I'm not focusing on them, though.

Or maybe because I'm looking for the apex on all of the turns, as I read in High Performance Driving.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Wow, I am in shock. You wanted your car so badly. I hope you get this resolved soon!



Try relaxing?

[Conan]

Originally Posted by uclacyc

That's weird, I've been driving for thirteen years, and I've never had this problem before. Then again, I've been driving mid-sized sedans most of my life.

Yep. It's the short focus coupled with the forces that you don't feel in a mid-sized sedan.

[ewalberg]

i can't relate at all because it's in spongy suspended (underdamped shocks) in most cars that i get motionsickness... the stiffer the car, the less problems i have.

[LARRY]

And your feet will ache from pedal placement

And your butt will ache from the new seat

And you'll smack yourself getting in and out.

You'll get used to all of it.

Man-up, yeah. Drive the car!

[epsdan]

Originally Posted by Conan

The first thing to try is looking further down the road. A very common mistake for the vast majority of drivers is focusing too close to the car. You should be scanning various distances all the time, but the average distance you focus on should be several HUNDRED feet in front of you. If you focus on a point way ahead, that should eliminate most of the problem.

Conan's right. Whether it helps with your motion sickness or not, time will tell. Your driving will improve, however, if you look out the top half of the windshield. Take a DE class, and it's one of the first things they'll tell you. If somthing's happening right in front of your nose, it's too late to do anything about it anyway. Look out and look up!

Dan

[Bavarian Motorist]

I dunno, those things you mention are physical effects. Motion sickness...suck.




My ass does ache from the new seat, though.

[mp3moose]

Drivers ed told me to be looking 30 seconds in front of me on the road.

[RacyTracy]

Although not the easiest thing to do in an Elise.....cool, fresh air helps too. If you're wearing a coat and tie, remove the coat, loosen the tie, open the window, see if the AC works. I'm sure you're not reading anything while you're driving, but if you are, don't.

[Mr. Know]

Originally Posted by uclacyc

I just took delivery of my Elise on Saturday (!), and I drove it to the exotic car meet at Santana Row with no problems, since it was all freeway driving. But after driving it through the canyons on the way to work, I felt like bleh and got major motion sickness, which usually never happens to me when I sail.

Is this something common, like I need to get my Lotus legs (as in sea legs), or do I need to man-up?

I saw an older thread on motion sickness, but the electronic ReliefBands are no longer being manufactured. Maybe I should try one of those cheapo acupressure bands at my local drug store.

I had the same problem when I first bought my Nissan Frontier, but eventually it went away. You will get used to it. Oh, and if you think its bad being the driver and getting motion sick...try being your passenger!

[dasmoofler]

Don't read while your driving!

[RacyTracy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Know

Oh, and if you think its bad being the driver and getting motion sick...try being your passenger!

I've had to make one emergency stop so my passenger could heave.

[AgentTripleX]

Part of the reason I enjoy driving so much is because I get motion sick as a passenger, especially on windy roads. I think in the past couple weeks I got motion sick for the first time as a driver. I can't remember if it was my car or some other exotic I was driving, but I'm pretty sure I was pushing it.

[etickt]

On the way into work? Maybe it's morning sickness...

[uclacyc]

Originally Posted by etickt

On the way into work? Maybe it's morning sickness...

Last time that I checked my pregnancy tests, it was negative.

Hard to happen when you're a dude, though.

[LARRY]

It's because the roads are designed by USC students.

[Stretch002]

I get motion sickness as a passenger in LOTS of cars. Rarely as a driver. That said, I DID get motion sickness driving an Elise at California Speedway last year. I have also gotten sick doing indoor karting. It is just something that happens to me.

That said, since I have bought my car I have not been motion sick driving it around. My guess is you were taking the turns pretty fast OR there were a LOT of turns. I would think that driving under normal conditions will be fine. A couple things I have discovered over the years DO help with motion sickness:

1. Make sure you have eaten recently. Counter intuitive, I know, but I get motion sick a LOT faster if I have an empty stomach.

2. The wristbands DO help but you have to put them on BEFORE you start to feel sick.

3. Cold air blowing on your face helps - doesn't have to be fresh air, just COLD air.

4. If you do feel sick, green apples will settle your stomach. It is wierd and sounds like it won't help, but it DOES work. Especially on a cruise ship (ask me how I know lol)

5. Gingerale can help as well.

6. Focusing farther ahead when you are driving does help. Do not look AT the apex, look through it to the straight away ahead