10 Tried & Tested Car Sickness Tips

Car sickness is something many of us experience at some point in our lives. Whether you’re in the driver’s seat or you’re a passenger, a sudden bout of dizziness and nausea can be extremely unpleasant – especially if it’s not possible to get up and leave the car. 

According to studies, around one-third of people are highly susceptible to travel sickness, so we’ve put together a guide of some tried and tested tips to help combat it.

Why do I get car sick?

Although more common in children than adults, car sickness is a form of motion sickness that can continue into (or even start in) adulthood. It’s essentially caused by repeated movements when you’re in a car, boat, plane or train, which cause your brain to get confused. 

Whether going over bumps or moving up and down, your inner ear processes motion, while your eyes see a static view. These conflicting messages cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness and sweating.

Our 10 car sickness tips:

1. Look at a fixed point

One of the most common tips for car sickness is to keep your eyes on a fixed point, such as the horizon, rather than things that are moving. This helps to synchronise what your inner ear is experiencing, with what your eyes can see. 

This obviously isn’t as simple if you’re driving, as you need to be aware of other cars around you. However, you can still keep your eyes focused on the road ahead to help balance things out.

2. Get some fresh air

Focusing on your breath and getting plenty of fresh air is one of the easiest things you can do to alleviate queasiness and headaches. So, make sure you open some windows in the car to reduce any stuffiness in the air. 

If it’s cold out, it might feel counterintuitive to put the air conditioning on, but getting the air circulating and removing any stale smells will be a big help.

3. Try some ginger

Ginger is a great natural remedy for a number of health issues, including car sickness. It helps improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and relax the stomach muscles, all of which can alleviate nausea. The NHS recommends taking it as a tablet, biscuit, or tea to help with car sickness, so it’s a good idea to be prepared before your next long journey.

4. Avoid spicy foods

If you’ve been researching how to get rid of car sickness, you’ll know that a common suggestion is to avoid meals that are particularly heavy or contain a lot of spice ahead of a journey. These foods tend to irritate the lining of your stomach and cause it to produce too much acid, which intensifies nausea. Similarly, you should avoid alcohol before and during travel.

5. Stop scrolling

If you’re a passenger, you might be looking for a welcome distraction from the creeping symptoms of car sickness. However, going on your phone or using another electronic device to scroll and watch something still interferes with the signals the inner ear sends to your brain, in conjunction with what you’re seeing. So, as above, look up and straight ahead at something fixed.

6. Wear some motion sickness glasses

They might not look particularly appealing, but plenty of people swear by motion sickness glasses, so they’re definitely worth a try. They can even be worn over your existing glasses. Featuring rims filled with blue or red liquid, the idea is that as the car moves, the liquid does too. This creates a ‘horizon’ in your eyeline, which counteracts the mismatch between what you can see and your brain’s movement sensors.

7. Take a tablet

If you’ve been asking “why do I get car sick?”, you’ve probably also wondered about travel sickness tablets. There are all sorts of options available at the pharmacy, including dissolvable tablets for children. Speak to your pharmacist to see what they recommend, or read some product reviews online to see which ones people have the most success with.

8. Stay hydrated

Being dehydrated worsens many health issues, so it’s no surprise that it increases the symptoms of car sickness. From headaches to nausea, dehydration impacts how your body functions, including your inner ear. Make sure you drink plenty of water before travelling, and have a bottle handy while on the move. 

9. Wear an acupressure band

Another popular travel sickness treatment you can try are nausea relief bands. The NHS advises that they don’t work for everyone - however, many people find them effective for reducing nausea and motion sickness. They work by targeting a pressure point on your wrist known as Neiguan, which is believed to help relieve nausea.

10. Nominate yourself as the driver

Drivers are less likely to suffer from car sickness compared to passengers. The logic is that by being in control of the vehicle, you can anticipate any movements before they happen, which helps with the sensory conflict that causes motion sickness. So, if you’ve got a road trip planned with friends or you’re car sharing to work, volunteering to be the designated driver can be a good way to manage car sickness.

What is the fastest way to cure car sickness?

There’s no one fast way to cure car sickness, as different things work for different people. The tips we’ve listed above are all tried and tested ways to alleviate symptoms, as well as helping to prevent them, so you can feel more prepared ahead of your next journey.

Speaking of preparation, you might also want to check out our Tips For Safely Driving With Children Onboard, if you’re worried about little ones feeling poorly when you drive. We’ve also compiled an 8-step guide on how you can prepare for a road trip, so that you’ve got peace of mind before you set off on a long journey. 

To book in for a service, a repair, or to ask any questions, get in touch with the experts at your local Kwik Fit centre.