About 14.1 million motorists will hit the road for holiday or day trips this month and next, the second-highest figure since it began tracking data in 2016.
These long delays will mean millions of restless children, and many parents will turn to a phone or tablet to keep their children occupied.
However, using tech in a moving vehicle is one of the most common triggers for car sickness, which, according to Churchill Motor Insurance affects more than a third of UK children.
As such, tech recycling comparison site Compare and Recycle highlights a simple, lesser-known iPhone hack that could help parents keep children entertained with tech while avoiding car sickness.
Lee Elliott, chief product officer at the tech recycling comparison site, explains how the hidden feature works and why it’s worth switching it on before setting off this weekend.
Lee Elliott, chief product officer, explainsed, “Car sickness is often caused by a mismatch between what the eyes see and what the body feels, and using a phone or tablet while in a moving vehicle is one of the most common triggers. Understandably, parents reach for a device to keep children occupied in long car journeys, but it’s worth knowing there’s a built-in setting that can help reduce that effect.
“Vehicle Motion Cues, found under Settings > Accessibility > Motion on most Apple devices, display a subtle set of moving dots around the edge of the screen that shift in response to the car’s movement.
“Because the dots move in sync with the vehicle, they give the eyes a visual cue that matches what the inner ear is already sensing, which is what helps ease that underlying mismatch. It works with the device in normal use, so children can still watch videos, play games or read while it’s active. It can be set to come on automatically whenever the phone detects it’s in a moving vehicle, so there’s nothing to remember once it’s set up.”
He added, “It’s also worth remembering this isn’t just a car journey issue. The same setting and the same principles apply on trains, coaches and ferries too, where children using phones, tablets or handheld consoles can experience similar symptoms of travel sickness.”
What can Android users do?
For those not using Apple devices, Lee says there are other ways they can utilise similar apps: “Android doesn’t have this feature built in yet, but there are free apps that do a similar job. KineStop overlays the same kind of moving dots on the screen and works in much the same way as Apple’s feature.
“Samsung users also have Hearapy, a free sound-based app designed to ease motion discomfort, though it’s tuned for use with Galaxy Buds specifically. Neither is quite as seamless as a built-in setting, but they’re a genuinely useful option for any parent whose child isn’t on an Apple device.”
What if the setting doesn’t help?
For children who still feel unwell even with the setting turned on, Lee suggests having a screen-free option ready as a backup: “For children who still feel unwell even with the setting enabled, it’s worth keeping a screen-free backup on hand.
“Simple games like ‘I Spy’, number plate games such as the ‘A to Z alphabet race’ where you try to spot every letter of the alphabet on other cars’ plates, or an audiobook give children something to focus on without needing to look at a screen at all, and can help once symptoms start to appear.
“Of course, while these settings can be useful, none of them replace the value in regular breaks and fresh air, which remain the most effective way to manage car sickness on a long journey.
“But for families who know a screen will be part of the trip regardless, it’s a straightforward setting that takes moments to turn on and could make a noticeable difference.”
