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For many people, the extra work they will be able to do and books they will be able to read in a self-driving car is a major selling point of the technology.

But research has found that an increase in these activities will also boost travel sickness.

Figures suggest that once autonomous vehicles become more mainstream as many as 12 per cent of people will feel ill in the vehicles at some point during a journey. 

Researchers at the University of Michigan asked 3,200 adults what activities they would do instead of driving in a fully self-driving vehicle. Almost a half said they would do things that increase the likelihood and severity of motion sickness, including reading, texting, watching movies or television, playing games or working

The research was carried out by Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. 

They asked more than 3,200 adults across the US, India, China, Japan, Great Britain and Australia what kinds of activities they would do instead of driving in a fully self-driving vehicle.

More than a third of Americans said they would do things that increase the likelihood and severity of motion sickness, including reading, texting, watching movies or television, playing games or working.

More than half of Indians, 40 per cent of Chinese and up to 30 per cent of adults in Japan, Great Britain and Australia said they would also engage in these kinds of activities.

And between six and 12 per cent of adults would be expected to experience moderate or severe motion sickness at some time during their journeys.

'Motion sickness is expected to be more of an issue in self-driving vehicles than in conventional vehicles,' Professor Sivak said. 

'The reason is that the three main factors contributing to motion sickness - conflict between vestibular (balance) and visual inputs, inability to anticipate the direction of motion and lack of control over the direction of motion - are elevated in self-driving vehicles.

'However, the frequency and severity of motion sickness is influenced by the activity that one would be involved in instead of driving.'

The report also found that more than 60 per cent of adults would watch the road, talk on the phone, or sleep while riding in a self-driving vehicle, which are considered activities that would not necessarily lead to motion sickness. 

Progfessor Sivak and Mr Schoettle suggest manufacturers design self-driving vehicles to lessen the likelihood of motion sickness.

This includes maximising the visual field with large, transparent windows, mount transparent video and work displays that force passengers to face forward, eliminate swivel seats and install fully reclining seats.

Three main factors contribute to motion sickness when reading in a car, as an example. These include conflict between vestibular (balance) and visual inputs, inability to anticipate the direction of motion and lack of control over the direction of motion. These will be elevated in self-driving vehicles

It is expected that between six and 12 per cent of adults would be expected to experience moderate or severe motion sickness at some time during their journeys in autonomous cars (pictured). The report also found more than 60% would watch the road, talk or sleep, which are not linked with motion sickness

It follows a recent study by eBay Motors that found 84 per cent of Americans will to continue drive their own cars and not rely on autonomous technology.

Almost four in 10 people think self-driving cars might save them money and three quarters of respondents think it is important that the technology could reduce the amount of greenhouse gases belched out by vehicles.

Approximately 56 per cent of Americans think self-driving cars will result in fewer accidents, while 15 per cent predict they will cause more crashes.

Being able to do other tasks while travelling in a car, not having to park and lower insurance rates are popular reasons to buy one, but the largest worry is liability in the event of a crash.

Take a look at Google's driverless car on the streets [Related]