Attacks of travel sickness may be prevented by driving smoothly, cornering and braking gently, and maintaining a flow of fresh air through the car. Make sure that all persons in the car are seated comfortably and that seat belts are worn. Any dangling object, such as a soft toy, should be taken down. Make frequent stops for a little exercise and perhaps some light refreshment, such as a picnic lunch.
There are a number of commercial preparations available for the prevention of travel sickness. No driver should take travel sickness pills without first checking with a physician that it is safe to do so; most of these preparations cause drowsiness.
Body Exercises
Here are a few simple exercises that a driver can do during stops to relieve body tension.
Neck. Relax the shoulders and lean the head back as far as possible for two seconds. Let the head fall forward so that the chin rests on the chest. Relax and repeat.
Shoulders. Rotate the shoulders in a forward motion, one at a time then both together, with the arms dangling loose. Relax and repeat.
Arms and Hands. Clench the fists, bring them to the shoulders, and flex the biceps. Relax and repeat. Alternatively clasp the hands together with the fingers interlocked and try to separate the hands without breaking their grip. Count to ten and relax.
Stomach. Take a deep breath and brace the stomach muscles. Hold to a slow count of 10 and breathe out slowly. Repeat several times.
Legs. Squeeze the thighs together and press the hands against the outside of the legs near the knees. Maintain hand pressure and separate the legs. Count to 10 and relax.
