Where should you sit on a bus to avoid travel sickness? (2023)

FAQs

How do you not get carsick on a bus? ›

Your sense of smell is heightened when you are nauseous, which will make engine fumes and food smells even worse. Stay away from the back of the bus on the bottom deck and from anyone with a takeaway. Priority seats on the bottom deck are best. Second best is the top deck, three rows from the front, on the aisle seat.

The safest seat on a bus is in the middle (aisle seats), between the two front tires. This is because it is the most protected from potential accidents. After finding out from the bus carrier how the seats are located on the bus, try to give preference to seats installed near the aisle.

Children in the back seat of the car are more susceptible when their height limits their view to seemingly stationary objects in the car. Reading also makes carsickness worse by focusing the attention on something that does not appear to be moving. The inner ears sense motion, but the rest of the body does not.

Motion is amplified at the rear side of the bus, which makes it harder to coordinate the movement of the bus with what you see. So if you're always getting car sick every time you travel, be sure to sit in front or near the front of the bus, preferably close to the driver.

They are the least comfortable. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Bombay say the seats in front, including the driver's seat, and the rear seats are the most uncomfortable because they experience the most vibrations (Indian Journal of Technology, Vol 30, No 6).

The least bumpy part of a bus is in the middle between the two wheel axles. The back is the most bumpy- it's like a see saw.

Which seat in a bus is safe? ›

The point here is selection of a safe seat in a trolleybus. Opt for seats in the right row on the aisle (in case of right-hand driving) since the oncoming transport moves on the left, and there are less chances to get hurt.

Sit at the front.

You'll have a better chance of having two seats all to yourself, since everyone else will, undoubtedly, be heading towards the back of the bus. Personally, I prefer the front because it makes me feel more safe to be closer to the driver.

He concluded that those who sat at the front were forward-thinkers, people who chose the middle seats were independent-minded, while the back seats were occupied by rebellious passengers who didn't like their personal space being invaded.

So, what seat should you pick to ensure a smooth ride? A seat directly over the wings (typically found in rows 10 to 30) is your best option to reduce the sensation of turbulence, says Dr. Quay Snyder, the president of the Aviation Medicine Advisory Service.

Age—children aged 2–12 years are especially susceptible, but infants and toddlers are generally immune. Adults >50 years are less susceptible to motion sickness. Sex—women are more likely to have motion sickness, especially when pregnant, menstruating, or on hormones.

Because the front wheels of a car are responsible for its direction, sitting in the front seat of a car tends to reduce motion sickness. This is because you feel less force from a sharp turn than you would at the back, which is further from the turning wheels.

But a recent study from Britain's University of Warwick suggests that we can “train our brains” to be far less susceptible to motion sickness with the help of simple visuospatial exercises. Visuospatial ability refers to the capacity to identify visual and spatial relationships among objects.

Usually fewer people; easier to be left alone. They don't get off the bus for a while and are being considerate by allowing people who get off before them to sit closer to the door. Sometimes there is a row of seats at the very back that allows people to stretch out a bit.

Best seat is a window seat at the front of the bus. Generally, the best passenger seats are those in the first or second row and the worst are in the rear row, adjacent to the toilet (for US buses). For crew, the driver's seat is the best and the folding jump seat (if equipped) is the worst.

Bus rides tend to be a bit bumpier in the back 1/3 of the bus, as opposed to the front and middle. There isn't a huge difference, but it's noticeable - particularly if you're trying to sleep and you're sensitive to movement.

Are you safer in a bus than in a car? ›

According to several studies, the rate of death is lower for travel on public transport than that in cars. For example, in the USA, fatality rate for car occupants were found to be 23 times higher than those for bus occupants, per 100 million person-trips [³].

As the middle section of bus is very close to center of gravity of the bus in comparison to that at ends, so the middle seating is more comfortable. Conclusion: Thus, the middle seating is more comfortable.

Don't pack anything smelly

It is imperative to be considerate towards fellow passengers and thus advisable to carry regular chips or cookies that do not have any odour. Another important suggestion is to avoid loud, messy food items like poppadum and pickles. These are not the best food for bus travel.

Take it slowly – try 'graded exposure'.

Next time, get on board, and ride one stop or two stops. You might need to do this section of the journey a few times before it feels okay, but every time you do it the less anxious you'll feel. When you're ready, travel halfway, and so on.

Pressure Point P-6 (Neiguan) Pressure point P-6 is also called Neiguan (nay-gwann). It is found on your inner arm near your wrist. Doing acupressure on this point can help with nausea and prevent vomiting.

Someone once said to someone at some point that sitting on brown paper or newspaper would alleviate the feelings of motion sickness – something to do with the smell. Having no basis in science – and even being rather light on anecdotal evidence – this one is probably not worth a try.

The typical position for sleeping on a bus is to sit facing forward and begin by reclining the seat if possible. Use a pillow or item of clothing to support your head as you lean it back or to one side. Try not to slouch and be patient as it takes time to relax.

Why is the seat behind the driver the safest? ›

The safest place for your car seat is the rear middle seat due to its maximum distance from passenger-side air bags and any potential impact.

Please don't take photos, video or make audio recordings of Greyhound staff, equipment or procedures (most of us haven't been to acting school and just want to do our jobs). Absolutely no alcohol, drugs or weapons anywhere on the bus (including in your under the bus baggage).

Bring a pillow, earplugs and an eye mask

Greyhound buses are comfortable, but if you sit on them for more than four hours the ride can become a real pain. The seats do recline quite far back, so you might be able to get some good sleep.

When it comes to safety, the front seat of a bus is generally considered to be the best option. This is because the driver is in the front and they are more likely to be awake and alert. Additionally, passengers in the back seat may not be as aware of their surroundings as those in the front.

Middle back--This is where the "cool kids" sit. They are risk takers but they also realize their limits. They still fear being grounded and what their parents will think of them even though they'll never admit to it. They were usually the kids that would do last minute homework on the bus but still wanted to be cool.

The safest seat in a school bus is generally in the middle, in an aisle seat on the right hand side, between the tires. It's safer if there's a head-on, side and rear-end collision. It is also less bumpy and jarring to the body. In addition, studies show that children are often injured approaching or leaving the bus.

What to Expect: All symptoms of motion sickness usually go away in 4 hours after stopping the motion. As for the future, people usually don't outgrow motion sickness. Sometimes, it becomes less severe in adults.

Desensitization therapy works for minimizing or even curing motion sickness. Expose yourself to short bursts of activities that cause symptoms, and then work up to longer periods. If reading a book in a moving vehicle makes you feel nauseated, try reading for five minutes and then putting the book down.

Visuospatial training exercises can train the brain to reduce motion sickness, providing a potential remedy for future passengers riding in autonomous vehicles.

OTC antihistamines, or H1 blockers, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine, Travel-Ease) are other types of antiemetics that may help stop vomiting caused by motion sickness.

What makes someone more prone to motion sickness? ›

If you have sinus congestion or a sinus or ear infection or have recently had a concussion, you may be more prone to motion sickness. People who get migraines are also more likely to get motion sickness.

Diet and drink: Drink plenty of water. Choose low-fat, bland, starchy foods before traveling. Avoid heavy meals and greasy, spicy or acidic foods that can upset your stomach. Don't drink alcohol or smoke.

To be extra prepared, consider taking Dramamine® All Day Less Drowsy a day in advance - relieves motion sickness symptoms with less drowsiness for up to 24 hours.