Seating patterns on the Washington, DC Metro Rail System.

Research on human tolerance in crashes has found that rear-facing seating offers increased protection over forward seating. However, rearward seats are only available in limited settings. In this study, passengers were observed and seating preferences recorded on the Washington Metropolitan Rail System (Metro). Only 25 per cent of adults faced rearward compared to 66 per cent of children. Since children appear willing to face rearward, rear-facing seating in school buses and other vehicles might be acceptable to them and provide safety benefits as well.