Traveling Backwards

[A S R]

Ok, stupid question time! Is the front seat passenger allowed to swivel the seat round and travel "backwards"? Not really thought about it before and I can't see anything in my Insurance that says they can't.

 

[Minxy]

But if you’re not facing the front you wouldn’t be able to do that quick intake of breath and draw in your elbows when the white van man is about to take off your wing mirror,thereby missing all the fun.

You've never been to Italy then ??? Its not the white van man that's the problem but the 'normal' (and I use that term very loosely!) car drivers and scooter riders coming towards us who seem to want to get close enough to see how many layers of paint we have on the side!!!!

 

[Chris]

I still say the first Back To The Future film was the best one

 

[A S R]

What MH have you got? Your profile says your still looking!

I have a Burstner Elegance 821.
( now changed my profile )

 

[A S R]

I can’t see that it’s a problem,but why would anyone want to travel facing the back???

Because there will be other people sitting at the other end of the table. Chatting, playing cards etc....

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[Lenny HB]

I don't see a problem with it, I used to have a car where the centre seats swiveled and there was a anotherseat belt for use when reversed, obviously not a problem with a Motorhome as the belts are built into the seat.
I wouldn't want to drive mine like it, with just the empty seat reversed visibility is dreadful.

 

[Minxy]

I still can't believe that the side vision won't be restricted, the below image shows the location of the seats so with the seat fully turned so it's facing backwards and with it as far into the hab area on its runners as possible, the back must surely still impede vision?

 

[gus-lopez]

If the vehicle has a passenger airbag it will not be legal. & don't do it here as they will certainly give you a fine.

 

[Lenny HB]

If the vehicle has a passenger airbag it will not be legal. & don't do it here as they will certainly give you a fine.

You can turn the air bag off would that get over the legallity.

 

[PhilandMena]

Possibly more safe in an accident as a seat belt is only two inches wide and the seat would restrain the whole body and not just a part of it. Head rest if correctly adjusted might be OK too. I'm not an expert but don't see any major issue with it other than restricting the sideways view perhaps.

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[golly]

The only thing I would be worried about is the strength of the seat back as in the event of a front collision the forces would be trying to force the seat backrest the "wrong" way.

 

[dabhand]

I can’t see that it’s a problem,but why would anyone want to travel facing the back???

Because its much more of a surprise when you get somewhere nice, but it is very tiring driving like this and you do have to have very long arms and rear vision goggles!

 

[gus-lopez]

The only thing I would be worried about is the strength of the seat back as in the event of a front collision the forces would be trying to force the seat backrest the "wrong" way.

That is what I would expect to happen. In two car accidents I have witnessed with driver only & no other vehicle the unoccupied passenger seat snapped on both occasions. First thing anyone commented on.

 

[A S R]

I still can't believe that the side vision won't be restricted, the below image shows the location of the seats so with the seat fully turned so it's facing backwards and with it as far into the hab area on its runners as possible, the back must surely still impede vision?

Same layout as that. When the passenger seat is swivelled round and locked and slid forwards towards the table there is clear vision into the near side mirror.

There isn't an airbag on the passenger side. Or the drivers side come to think about it!

 

[Minxy]

Same layout as that. When the passenger seat is swivelled round and locked and slid forwards towards the table there is clear vision into the near side mirror.

There isn't an airbag on the passenger side. Or the drivers side come to think about it!

I'm not just talking about the mirror, but being able to see clearly out of the window itself for anything there, I don't think just being able to see via the mirror would be deemed 'safe'. If you want to do it then you will, but personally I wouldn't want to risk it.

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[joka250]

The only thing I would be worried about is the strength of the seat back as in the event of a front collision the forces would be trying to force the seat backrest the "wrong" way.

I think this is probably the best reason for not having seat rear facing, I doubt if even the latest of vehicles have seat backs capable of withstanding any frontal impact.

 

[tboy]

Possibly more safe in an accident as a seat belt is only two inches wide and the seat would restrain the whole body and not just a part of it. Head rest if correctly adjusted might be OK too.


what about if hit in rear

 

[Flatlander]

I'm not just talking about the mirror, but being able to see clearly out of the window itself for anything there, I don't think just being able to see via the mirror would be deemed 'safe'. If you want to do it then you will, but personally I wouldn't want to risk it.

I'm with you on this, Minxy Girl. I dont see how someone can see clearly either.

Theres an old saying that goes "a picture is worth a thousand words." Perhaps someone could turn the passenger seat round so that it is facing backwards, get someone to sit in it, then take a photo from the drivers seat with the camera at eye level and showing the view from the passenger side mirror clearly.

 

[A S R]

I'm not just talking about the mirror, but being able to see clearly out of the window itself for anything there, I don't think just being able to see via the mirror would be deemed 'safe'. If you want to do it then you will, but personally I wouldn't want to risk it.

Vision is no more impaired out of the side window than in a car for example with a passenger sat in the front!

 

[A S R]

I'm with you on this, Minxy Girl. I dont see how someone can see clearly either.

Theres an old saying that goes "a picture is worth a thousand words." Perhaps someone could turn the passenger seat round so that it is facing backwards, get someone to sit in it, then take a photo from the drivers seat with the camera at eye level and showing the view from the passenger side mirror clearly.

I'll do that at the weekend when I get the Motorhome out again. I'm back at work all week now. If I'd have thought about it I would've taken one Sunday. Hey ho.
I'll also try and get hold of a serving traffic officer and get their view on the subject.

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[Minxy]

Vision is no more impaired out of the side window than in a car for example with a passenger sat in the front!

My concern is that the backrest tilts 'forwards' (ie towards the dash) for comfort so is more likely to cause a bigger impairment than someone sat in the seat who, to be fair, you can ask to move out of the way a little, not easy to do with a chair back!

I'll do that at the weekend when I get the Motorhome out again. I'm back at work all week now. If I'd have thought about it I would've taken one Sunday. Hey ho.
I'll also try and get hold of a serving traffic officer and get their view on the subject.

... literally I hope!

 

[obanvanman]

As an ex Traffic Policeman I have been watching this thread with interest and on my way to taking a look at the Construction and Use Regs I remembered that the theory of facing backwards with regards to safety had already been tested, and I am amazed that the older ones amongst you had not already used this as a point of reference.



Broken Link Removed

As far back as 1967 Captain Scarlet can be clearly seen here driving the Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle backwards.

and I quote:-

"Within the hermetically-sealed control compartment, the driver, co-driver and a passenger are seated backwards, facing the rear, to reduce the possibility of injury in the event of a crash"


General characteristics
Maximum speed 200 mph (320 km/h)
Auxiliary craft Jet pack
Armaments Laser cannons, ground-to-air rockets, electrode ray cannons
Defenses Bullet-proof armour chassis
Propulsion Rear-mounted turbo jets (on water)
Power Hydrogenic electric fuel cells
Detachable power pack
Mass 8 long tons (8.1 tonnes)
Length 25 ft (7.6 m)

Also, before any smart arse out there comes back with the fact that he was indestructible, in several episodes Captain Blue was also seen driving it, and indeed had a serious accident but managed to walk away.

In fact, here he is just after the accident and although he was travelling backwards I think he looks ok.

(Having said that, I think that as a result of the crash his head might now be facing the wrong way).

.

 

[PhilandMena]

Possibly more safe in an accident as a seat belt is only two inches wide and the seat would restrain the whole body and not just a part of it. Head rest if correctly adjusted might be OK too.


what about if hit in rear

Most if not all of the energy would be absorbed before it reached the passenger seat, assuming the vehicle is moving forward. If stationary the seat would probably be in this position anyway. The only downside I can see is the driver's vision being restricted when on the move.

 

[A S R]

As an ex Traffic Policeman I have been watching this thread with interest and on my way to taking a look at the Construction and Use Regs I remembered that the theory of facing backwards with regards to safety had already been tested, and I am amazed that the older ones amongst you had not already used this as a point of reference.



Broken Link Removed

As far back as 1967 Captain Scarlet can be clearly seen here driving the Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle backwards.

and I quote:-

"Within the hermetically-sealed control compartment, the driver, co-driver and a passenger are seated backwards, facing the rear, to reduce the possibility of injury in the event of a crash"


General characteristics
Maximum speed 200 mph (320 km/h)
Auxiliary craft Jet pack
Armaments Laser cannons, ground-to-air rockets, electrode ray cannons
Defenses Bullet-proof armour chassis
Propulsion Rear-mounted turbo jets (on water)
Power Hydrogenic electric fuel cells
Detachable power pack
Mass 8 long tons (8.1 tonnes)
Length 25 ft (7.6 m)

Also, before any smart arse out there comes back with the fact that he was indestructible, in several episodes Captain Blue was also seen driving it, and indeed had a serious accident but managed to walk away.

In fact, here he is just after the accident and although he was travelling backwards I think he looks ok.

(Having said that, I think that as a result of the crash his head might now be facing the wrong way).

.

Wow! That was before my time I'm pleased to say!

 

[joka250]

@obanvanman comment 're. Construction and Use regs should point us to a definitive answer on this. My info is somewhat limited on this as regs 're. seats and SRS systems vary between car and commercials. I think reference to original manufacturers and converters should be made and then speak to the insurers. My own interpretation fwiw is that it is not permissible but that is not a tested opinion. A quick chat with a traffic P C I was told probably not be pulled over if seen but if an accident a lot of questions would be asked.

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[A S R]

I think I will ping an email off to Burstner and ask them if it's been tested for use backwards too. It would be good to get an answer from the manufacturer.

 

[Minxy]

Wow! That was before my time I'm pleased to say!

You young whipper snapper!

We went out for a meal today with our friends and the lad in there, probably in his 20s was chatting to us about films etc, turns out he likes horror movies etc but not just the 'blood and gore' type, ones with suspense etc, we told him to look up Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee ... he asked if they were directors and he'd never heard of them!

 

[joka250]

You young whipper snapper!

We went out for a meal today with our friends and the lad in there, probably in his 20s was chatting to us about films etc, turns out he likes horror movies etc but not just the 'blood and gore' type, ones with suspense etc, we told him to look up Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee ... he asked if they were directors and he'd never heard of them!

Now that is seriously off thread, with this we could go almost anywhere. I think this is what I love about this website. Great.