Should passenger seats be reversed ?

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Hi
Here is an interesting thought, that seats in passenger vehicles including aircraft
for reasons of protecting occupants - be reversed. So passengers face toward the rear.

It is not as appealing for looking around, but if safety is paramount it has a lot going for it

If we think of the seatbelt and chair as mediums for keeping people in place,
in the case of an impact from the front, the chair and their seatbelt assists to protect them.
vs facing forward there is less protection. In the case of a rear collision they are forced
back into the seat away from the object.

When it comes to cars, if we forgo the passenger seat, and instead move the driver
facing forward driving, to the center and surround him with airbags, and behind him
the passenger seats facing to the rear, I think this could save lives. The car manufacturers
will not like it, as it lessens available seating room in cars.

Any thoughts ?

[mikeyb]

Hi
Here is an interesting thought, that seats in passenger vehicles including aircraft
for reasons of protecting occupants - be reversed. So passengers face toward the rear.

It is not as appealing for looking around, but if safety is paramount it has a lot going for it

If we think of the seatbelt and chair as mediums for keeping people in place,
in the case of an impact from the front, the chair and their seatbelt assists to protect them.
vs facing forward there is less protection. In the case of a rear collision they are forced
back into the seat away from the object.

When it comes to cars, if we forgo the passenger seat, and instead move the driver
facing forward driving, to the center and surround him with airbags, and behind him
the passenger seats facing to the rear, I think this could save lives. The car manufacturers
will not like it, as it lessens available seating room in cars.

Any thoughts ?
Have you sat facing backwards in a road vehicle, it's grim, travel sickness is made worse if facing backwards, I spent many years in rear facing fire engine cabs and you would turn up at incidents feeling crap.

Big no no from me I'm afraid.

[struth]

i'd second Mike's opinion. Dont even like facing sideways, but facing back does make you feel unwell. As far as aircraft are concerned It may not be as bad but tbh the seat fixing mounts are usually not strong enough anyway

[mikeyb]

The other awkward thing about facing backwards in a car etc is you can't prepare for the next bend so invariably get thrown from side to side.

My mate and I tried riding pillion on a motorbike facing backwards, jeez was that scary not only for the one facing backwards but the driver had very poor control of the lean as his passenger ( me ) couldn't see the corners coming!

[shane]

I have vivid memories of a two hour train journey facing backwards on one of those old DMUs where you could see back through the driver's cab. It was an interesting if unsettling experience, not least because for at least a hour afterwards the world still appeared to be rushing past in the same way that the world carries on spinning when you spin yourself into dizziness. Very weird, and not pleasant.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Yes valid points concerning cars trucks and bikes, that for feeling well
facing forward is preferable. But for safety, we can see some child
restraints already thinking of this.

When it comes to being a passenger in a larger fast moving mass vehicle
like an aircraft, the velocity might be such that your body cannot
discern which way.

I know a lot of the seats on the local train face backwards, and seem to get
occupied. When i have sat that way there is not much difference, and i do
not feel unwell. .

[Sherwood]

Hi
Here is an interesting thought, that seats in passenger vehicles including aircraft
for reasons of protecting occupants - be reversed. So passengers face toward the rear.

It is not as appealing for looking around, but if safety is paramount it has a lot going for it

If we think of the seatbelt and chair as mediums for keeping people in place,
in the case of an impact from the front, the chair and their seatbelt assists to protect them.
vs facing forward there is less protection. In the case of a rear collision they are forced
back into the seat away from the object.

When it comes to cars, if we forgo the passenger seat, and instead move the driver
facing forward driving, to the center and surround him with airbags, and behind him
the passenger seats facing to the rear, I think this could save lives. The car manufacturers
will not like it, as it lessens available seating room in cars.

Any thoughts ?

Have you been playing with your Captain Scarlet SPV again? :eyebrows:

Geoff

[walpurgis]

This is a bit like the falling lift argument. If the cable snaps and the lift falls, should you just stand, or try and jump a bit before impact, or lay down? It's all about spreading the load! So I'd lay down.

Facing backwards in a vehicle is theoretically safer, as the seat back offers more area to absorb a frontal impact. Assuming the seat and its mounts don't fail (and they probably will in a hard crash).

[Sherwood]

By that reasoning wouldn't a fully recumbent position be best with some memory foam shock absorbing booties!

Geoff

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Have you been playing with your Captain Scarlet SPV again? :eyebrows:

Geoff

I used to enjoy watching Captain Scarlet, and of course the Mysterons,

[Sherwood]

You will recall that the SPV had driver and passengers facing backwards with a front facing camera used to steer it!

Geoff

[Macca]

I use the train quite a lot and never have a problem with facing backwards. Never really been bothered by travel sickness though. I suppose if you are prone to it then it wouldn't help matters.

IIRC the reason they don't bother on planes is because in the event of a crash it would not add enough extra safety to actually make any difference to the outcome.

[struth]

I use the train quite a lot and never have a problem with facing backwards. Never really been bothered by travel sickness though. I suppose if you are prone to it then it wouldn't help matters.

IIRC the reason they don't bother on planes is because in the event of a crash it would not add enough extra safety to actually make any difference to the outcome.

might let you survive long enough to burn to death:D

[shane]

Facing backwards per se isn't a problem. It's facing backwards with a good view of an ever-retreating world that causes the issues.

[mikeyb]

Travel sickness isn't totally caused by facing backwards as people are prone to it facing forward too, it's to do with your eye movement, if you look out the side window and your​ eye tracks everything moving sideways they flick from side to side thereby causing motion sickness. My mate used to get it just watching the screen when I was playing 2st person shooters like Doom or Battlefield.

Sitting backwards in an aircraft won't cause issues except during takeoff and landing as that will be the only time you'll see the ground moving fast and only at a window seat.

Infant seats are rear facing to absorb the impact by forcing their bodies back into the seat and not by facing forward and their body bring flung against the restraints resulting in major organ damage and the biggest killer in front impact, torn aorta or mesentery, also they'd break their neck. So rear facing helps prevent that.

People only sit in rear facing train seats when there's no other choice 😉

[mikeyb]

Referring to plane crashes a mate of mine asked his mate ( who was terrified of flying ) if he knew why you had to put your head down when adopting the brace position, no be replied, my mate told him it was to make sure you died quickly when your spine was rammed into your brain lol

[walpurgis]

IIRC the reason they don't bother on planes is because in the event of a crash it would not add enough extra safety to actually make any difference to the outcome.

Probably true. When suicidal pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flew that airliner into a mountain a couple of years ago at nearly 500 mph, the remains of those poor passengers were burger sized bits.

[walpurgis]

On a train, facing backwards presents another problem. Being killed by the person opposite being catapaulted into you in a crash.

[Macca]

Probably true. When suicidal pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flew that airliner into a mountain a couple of years ago at nearly 500 mph, the remains of those poor passengers were burger sized bits.

That's the thing I don't like about flying, it's all or nothing. You either arrive completely intact and healthy or you don't arrive at all. At least with all the other forms of travel there is a chance of surviving a major disaster. Even if you are badly hurt you are still alive and will pick up major compo.

[walpurgis]

Here's what happens when a plane hits something at 500mph. Being tightly belted into your seat seems rather superfluous really!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZjhxuhTmGk

[Macca]

I know loads of people who won't go on planes. A few who won't go on boats. They will all go on trains and in cars though. Statistically they are the two worst I think.

Then again I knew two blokes who were killed just standing having a conversation 20 feet back from the road. Some young lunatic burning along the straight stretch lost control, went though a concrete bollard and hit them dead on.

When your number's up...

[mikeyb]

The reason they have backward facing seats on planes is they can seat more people in that configuration as the seats take up less room as the top half of your body isn't directly adjacent to the next person but your legs are so less seat width.

[Macca]

You meant forward facing? Or trains? Must be one or the other.

[Macca]

I don't see any difference in how much space there is. Assuming a uniform shaped passenger cabin you can get just as many in facing either way. Or am I missing something ?

[struth]

Here's what happens when a plane hits something at 500mph. Being tightly belted into your seat seems rather superfluous really!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZjhxuhTmGk

maybe an airbag would have helped