Traveling Backwards (1 Viewer)

[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]

You are kidding aren't you?????

How on earth do you expect the seat belt to work?

Also doing so, even without anyone sitting in it, would impede your vision anyway so IMV a no-no!

... you been out on the razzle????

 

[Bailey58]

I imagine it would contravene the seat belt rule where all passengers must be belted up where there is a seat belt provided, or words to that effect. I can't imagine it would function even if it could reach around to fit.

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[A S R]

You are kidding aren't you?????

How on earth do you expect the seat belt to work?

Also doing so, even without anyone sitting in it, would impede your vision anyway so IMV a no-no!

... you been out on the razzle????

Nope, the seat belt is incorporated into the chair swivel mechanism. Meaning no matter what position the seat is in, forwards or backwards, the seatbelt isn't any different. You can sit in the seat, put the belt on, and turn yourself around. When the seat is pointing backwards it doesn't impede the vision out of the window or mirror either.

 

[tonyidle]

Nope, the seat belt is incorporated into the chair swivel mechanism. Meaning no matter what position the seat is in, forwards or backwards, the seatbelt isn't any different. You can sit in the seat, put the belt on, and turn yourself around. When the seat is pointing backwards it doesn't impede the vision out of the window or mirror either.

But it probably isn't locked - therefore insecure.

 

[tonyidle]

Nope, the seat belt is incorporated into the chair swivel mechanism. Meaning no matter what position the seat is in, forwards or backwards, the seatbelt isn't any different. You can sit in the seat, put the belt on, and turn yourself around. When the seat is pointing backwards it doesn't impede the vision out of the window or mirror either.

But it probably isn't locked - therefore insecure.

Sorry - tinternet went slow.

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[A S R]

But it probably isn't locked - therefore insecure.

Sorry - tinternet went slow.

The seat locks pointing backwards as well as forwards. As mentioned before, the seatbelt and seat swivel as one.

 

[joka250]

The seat may lock but the seat belt inertia reel will not lock in such a way as to secure the wearer, therefore illegal and extremely unsafe. Further if seat belt has S R S integral to its installation it is likely that this alone will malfunction and potentially cause serious injury.

 

[Chris]

The seat may lock but the seat belt inertia reel will not lock in such a way as to secure the wearer, therefore illegal and extremely unsafe. Further if seat belt has S R S integral to its installation it is likely that this alone will malfunction and potentially cause serious injury.

I sort of understand that but in my van I have a dinette with 2 forward facing seats and 2 rear facing, all belted. Would the rear facing ones be ineffective?

I should add that we had them fitted as a precautionary extra but have never actually used the rear facing ones

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[funflair]

I don't see why not other than driver visibility as you can in the back of the likes of VW Caravelle, in our van the seat would affect the drivers view out of the side window and possibly even mirrors so that would make it a no no.

Martin

 

[Jim]

We had an RV and passenger seat used to lock in position forward or backward so the passenger, with the integrated belts, could face front or rear, Similar with the Tub Chairs, with integrated belts, they can face any direction, but for travelling it's safest to lock it, either forward or rear facing.

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

Nope, the seat belt is incorporated into the chair swivel mechanism. Meaning no matter what position the seat is in, forwards or backwards, the seatbelt isn't any different. You can sit in the seat, put the belt on, and turn yourself around. When the seat is pointing backwards it doesn't impede the vision out of the window or mirror either.

In our Moho, both passenger and driver seat have these integral seat belts and the seats both lock pointing backwards. I do find it quite uncomfortable to reach the steering wheel and brake pedal in this position though. Accelerator is OK though as I could just use the cruise control.

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[Mr Chrysalis]

The seat may lock but the seat belt inertia reel will not lock in such a way as to secure the wearer, therefore illegal and extremely unsafe. Further if seat belt has S R S integral to its installation it is likely that this alone will malfunction and potentially cause serious injury.

I'm no expert, but I thought that inertia reels locked with increased G force in any direction. They do in high performance cars to hold driver in when cornering. In this case rear facing passenger should be OK. Also if the seat is up to standard, the seat back would support the passenger, making him/her more secure. In early passenger aircraft, all passengers faced rearwards for that reason. Having said that, I don't even like facing backwards on a train. I think @joka250 's 2 rear facing dinette seats would be fine, but it might be worth checking with the supplier. I can't' see he would have fitted them if it were not safe to use on the move.

 

[DBK]

You would have to ask the vehicle manufacturer as the seat may not be design to take the force of a human body in that direction - it could fold flat and the occupant torpedo forward through the windscreen.

Some RAF passenger aircraft have rearward facing seats as it is safer in a crash - but the seats and seat anchorages are designed appropriately. You couldn't just turn around the seats in a standard airliner - they would probably collapse.

 

[Sheddy]

The rear facing seats at the dinette on our old Bessi were factory fitted and had inertia units. The front seats on the Rapido have integrated belts, the seat swivels lock in both the forward and rear facing positions.
Cheers
Ed

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[Hils and Glenns]

All the travelling seat are forward facing ie side bench seats etc don't have seat belts. Dealers always say how many forward facing travelling seats there are in a van so I'm guessing there is a rule about this somewhere.

 

[Cavs]

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.

There's nothing in the seat belt legislation that would make this illegal, so the only offence that might possibly be relevant is 'dangerous condition', which includes carrying passengers in "position, condition or circumstances" that create danger to anyone. This could include restricted vision for the driver as well as danger to the affected passenger(s).

In my judgement, this offence would not be made out in the situation you describe. I have done it and I consider it perfectly safe, possibly even safer.

(Disclaimer: all the above is from memory - I've not looked anything up.)

 

[Minxy]

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

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[Drexxer]

Our Adria has a rear facing 5th seat with belt, not sure I would want to be in it though myself as you have to move a framework sideways that is the side bench

Andy

 

[magicsurfbus]

Given that there are members of this forum who think it's OK to get up and make a brew whilst on the move, it's difficult to see how sitting in a locked and belted rear facing seat would be a major problem.

Unless of course someone was in the back making a brew when the brakes were slammed on.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

How on earth do you expect the seat belt to work?

The seat belt works perfectly well. On swivel seats the seat belt and all the anchor points are built in to the seat frame so they can be used no matter what position the seat is in.

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[Deleted member 29692]

All the travelling seat are forward facing ie side bench seats etc don't have seat belts. Dealers always say how many forward facing travelling seats there are in a van so I'm guessing there is a rule about this somewhere.

Travel seats can be forward or rear facing. You're correct about side facing though.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

But it probably isn't locked - therefore insecure.

Sorry - tinternet went slow.

The seat locks pointing backwards as well as forwards. As mentioned before, the seatbelt and seat swivel as one.

Some lock in the rear position, some don't.

If they do lock in the rear position there's no problem.

We've travelled like that loads of times.

 

[Barclaybasher]

Given that there are members of this forum who think it's OK to get up and make a brew whilst on the move, it's difficult to see how sitting in a locked and belted rear facing seat would be a major problem.Unless of course someone was in the back making a brew when the brakes were slammed on.

Traveled on a South Eastern Train last week, out of interest turned on my phones speed ap - top speed 140 MPH............. no seat belt, no air bags and you could walk about...............

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[Podney]

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

 

[Minxy]

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

If it's anything like the front passenger seat in a RHD MH when being driven in Italy I can certainly understand NOT wanting to face all the idiots coming towards you at high speed!

Seriously though, I suppose if there are rear passengers it means the front passenger can chat/see what they're doing whilst travelling. I still don't understand how the driver's side vision isn't affected though due to the large seat back being in the way.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I still don't understand how the driver's side vision isn't affected though due to the large seat back being in the way.

It depends on the seat position I suppose. It will still slide forwards and backwards so can be positioned to suit the driver.

We've travelled like that and I didn't find my vision to be obstructed at all.

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[Landy lover]

Sorry could not resist putting this on having seen the title

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...0BCE1BB7B9C846279CFA0BCE1BB7B9C84&FORM=VRDGAR

 

[Flatlander]

I still don't understand how the driver's side vision isn't affected though due to the large seat back being in the way.

As I see things, not only the drivers side vision, but also rear vision would be impaired. The latter because the seat back and/or passenger might obstruct the nearside mirror. Not an (illegal?) problem if there is a rear window that can actually be seen out of, but it is if there isnt. Having said that, not being able to see out of the nearside mirror could cause problems for other road users such as cyclists coming past between kerb and MH.

 

[Podney]

If it's anything like the front passenger seat in a RHD MH when being driven in Italy I can certainly understand NOT wanting to face all the idiots coming towards you at high speed!

Seriously though, I suppose if there are rear passengers it means the front passenger can chat/see what they're doing whilst travelling. I still don't understand how the driver's side vision isn't affected though due to the large seat back being in the way.

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.