A virtual reality driving simulator as an analogue of motion sickness in electric vehicle emergency driving

Abstract

Motion sickness (MS) is an operationally relevant problem for emergency drivers. Virtual reality (VR) may provide a practical method for inducing and studying MS symptoms under controlled conditions, with potential applications in future assessment and rehabilitation. This feasibility study examined whether immersive VR could induce an MS symptom burden resembling that experienced during emergency driving in electric police vehicles. Sixteen police officers and 16 controls were included. Motion sickness susceptibility was assessed in all participants using the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire-Short (MSSQ-Short). Both police officers and controls underwent VR exposure and subsequently completed the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ), allowing comparison of VR-induced symptoms between the two groups. The police officers additionally completed an emergency-driving session in an electric vehicle, followed by the MSAQ, to compare symptom responses following VR exposure and real-life emergency driving. Finally, six participants repeated the VR exposure to assess whether similar symptom responses could be reproduced. MSAQ scores following VR exposure and emergency driving showed a small mean difference, with a small effect size (Hedges’ g < 0.4), although the confidence intervals were relatively wide. Repeated VR exposure resulted in similar symptom levels, providing preliminary evidence that symptom responses may be reproducible. These findings suggest that immersive VR is a feasible and safe method for inducing and studying MS symptoms relevant to emergency driving under controlled conditions. The similar symptom responses observed upon repeated VR exposure provide preliminary support for reproducibility. Overall, the findings provide a methodological basis for larger studies to validate the model and further investigate its reproducibility. If confirmed, this approach may have applications in research, training, and rehabilitation involving professional drivers and relevant patient populations.