How to Vomit While Driving

Co-authored by Julie Brow-Polanco

Last Updated: August 29, 2023 References

Are you at the wheel and feeling ill? Feeling like you may…hurl? Many motorists have never considered what to do if, while driving, they become sick. Nausea and vomiting while driving are not merely unpleasant but can be potentially deadly if handled poorly. If you are at risk, if you are chronically motion-sick or have nausea because of chemotherapy or another medical condition, being able to pull over and safely be sick might save your life.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Anticipating the Problem

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1
Avoid driving. Motion sickness is likely caused when involuntary movement (as in a car or boat) confuses the brain, which normally senses movement by signals coming from the inner ear, eyes, and surface receptors.^{[1]
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Cleveland Clinic
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Go to source} It is a common problem. If you are prone to motion sickness and vomiting, one way to avoid a dangerous situation is to avoid driving.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, nausea and vomiting are more common in chemotherapy patients with a prior history of motion sickness.^{[2]
  X
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
  Go to source} You may want to avoid driving for the duration of your therapy, if you suspect a problem will arise.
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Take non-drowsy motion sickness medication before driving. If you experience severe motion sickness, you might try an over-the-counter medication like Dramamine or Meclizine. These will usually work within 30 to 60 minutes. However, make sure to choose a non-drowsy variety. Regular Dramamine has a sedative effect, for example, which makes driving under its influence dangerous!^{[3]
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- Another option is to take an antiemetic or anti-nausea drug. Emetrol, for example, for Pepto-Bismol may be appropriate.^{[4]
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- Always consult a doctor about what medicine is best for you. S/he will know about possible side-effects and adverse drug interactions.
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Stock your car with chewing gum and sick bags. Be prepared if you are prone to vomiting. Stock vomit bags near the driver’s seat, for example, either paper or plastic bags, and consider lining the passenger seat and/or floor with plastic sheeting.
- Chewing also helps to reduce nausea^{[5]
  X
  Research source} for example, so keep a mild-flavored gum handy, like Juicy Fruit. However, you may find that chewing in general helps your symptoms. Snacking on sweets of just chewing in general may relieve your body’s conflict between vision and balance.
- Fresh, cool air also seems to help motion sickness slightly. Keep your driver’s side window open slightly or the vents pointed at your face.
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Eat ginger before you drive. Ginger is an old herbal remedy for nausea and some studies indicate that it may help motion sickness. Try taking a supplement of 250 mg three times per day, when driving heavily. Alternately, you might buy some ginger gum to chew, doubling the effects of chewing with the soothing qualities of the herb.
- Keep in mind that ginger supplements may increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you are on a blood-thinner or aspirin. Talk to your doctor to see if ginger supplements are OK for you.
- You could also take ginger tea in a thermos and sip regularly to relieve symptoms of nausea. To make this, add 1 teaspoon of ginger (grated or powdered) to 8 ounces of hot water. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes, then transfer to your thermos. If using grated fresh ginger, you may need to strain it before adding to the thermos. Sip as needed at rest stops.
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Drive defensively and learn the warning signs. If you must drive, drive defensively in case you need to pull over quickly. Stay in the outer lane, for example, and avoid expressways or roads where it is hard to make a quick exit or safe pull off.
- Learn to read your body’s reactions. If your motion sickness usually starts with a light headache, worsens, and then turns to nausea and vomiting, note whenever you get a headache. Take that as a sign that you should pull over.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Reacting to Sudden Nausea

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Let your passengers know if you are suddenly overcome with nausea. Passengers can help either by giving you something to vomit into or, in dire need, by grabbing control of the wheel. Someone can also cup their hands as an impromptu vomit bag. Gross, yes, but perhaps better than a lingering stench in the car of vomiting on your clothes. The important thing is that they know what is happening and do not panic.
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Try to pull over carefully. The most important thing is controlling the car and the ensuring the safety of you, your passengers, and other motorists and pedestrians. Your clothes are the least of your worries. If you are driving at a slower speed, between 10 and 30 mph, try to pull over. If that proves to be impossible and there are no or only a few cars behind you, slow to a stop, turn on your hazard lights, and vomit.
- Don’t worry about the reaction of other motorists in this situation. At slow speeds, there is little danger in stopping in the road. Open the door and vomit if possible.
- If you can, pull over onto the side of the road. At the first sign of nausea, brace your body for another couple seconds and attempt a safe, slow maneuver onto the road shoulder.
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At higher speeds, use extreme caution. Do not stop in the middle of the road. Drive defensively, use your indicator, and do not assume other cars will slow down for you.
- Do not pull into the center divide on a freeway or highway. Center divides are closer to the fastest moving cars and offer less space than the shoulder.
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Vomit outside only under safe conditions. As said, as slower speeds you should be able to stop, open your door, and vomit onto the pavement. However, this maneuver is very dangerous on faster roads and expressways. Even pulled onto the shoulder, you should avoid getting out of your car. Exercise caution. It is better to hurl on your floor mats than to be seriously injured by another car.
- At high speeds, and if stopping is impossible take your foot off the accelerator while preparing to vomit and hover your foot over the brake in case you need to slow the car down quickly.
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Vomit straight ahead. If unable to pull over, your primary aim should be to maintain control over the vehicle. Do not pivot your head to the side and take your eyes off the road. Such a movement naturally causes one to swerve. Instead, look straight ahead and aim for a container or, barring that, the steering wheel/column or front window. You can wipe it off later with your hand.
- If a bag or container is unavailable, you might also pull out your shirt collar and vomit onto your chest. While gross, this minimizes head movement and keeps you safest.
- Alternatively, aim for the floor. It is better to vomit on the seat or floor than on a console with sound system and air conditioning/heating controls etc.

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Tips

Clean up any vomit in the car as soon as possible, and avoid leaving it uncleaned in the sun. Nothing is worse to clean than baked-on vomit caked on upholstery.

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Generally speaking, vomiting on a leather seat is preferable to a plush seat or rug.

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Keep in mind that you must stay calm and focused, no matter how hard the task appears.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Let any passengers know as soon as you start feeling unwell behind the wheel. Extra observers can help spot changing traffic conditions if concentration wavers. They may also be able to provide a bit of quick cleanup assistance with bags, napkins or towels if stopping right away is not an option. The extra hands can prove extremely helpful.
If you cannot pull over safely, ease off the accelerator to gently slow the car as nausea builds. This gives you better control to brake evenly if needed. Try to keep eyes focused straight ahead on the road rather than turning towards a bag or container inside the car. Any head-twisting movements tend to cause drifting within the lane.
Make every effort to remain calm if you do end up getting sick while driving. Panic or anxiety only heighten risks substantially. Keeping composed allows you to maintain the best control over the vehicle before addressing any cleanup. A level head keeps all occupants safest in difficult situations.
Keep a small pack of vomit bags in your glove box or center console if prone to motion sickness. That way if nausea strikes unexpectedly, you'll have something on hand to contain the mess instead of fumbling around. Trying to find a makeshift solution once already feeling sick rarely goes well.
Consider investing in custom heavy-duty floor mats designed to resist stains and smells. Brands like WeatherTech and Husky Liners make quality options that can protect your vehicle's carpeting from mess while driving ill. The ease of removal and cleaning provides welcome peace of mind.
Consult your doctor about whether an over-the-counter anti-nausea medication might help when driving. Some options can cause unwanted drowsiness, so be sure to get their recommendation on the safest variety and proper dosage for you.

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Warnings

Keeping control of the car is the most important issue when feeling ill behind the wheel.

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If you keep vomiting or have high illness or fever, immediately visit a hospital so they can take care of you.

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Driving with a severe flu can be considered reckless endangerment, as you are putting the lives of both yourself and other motorists in jeopardy if you lose control of the vehicle.

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