GMC's Leylands also had the crew riding backwards, and it seems that some UK brigades thought this was safer - at least until seat belts became common.
Many US appliances still have some of their rear seats facing backwards, and a 2+2+2 configuration is very popular, although by no means universal.
It is too in Germany, where there are also quite a lot of 9 seat pumpers, with three facing the rear on seats behind the driver and OIC...
Some US volunteer fire companies are still buying apparatus with up to 10 seats, and these have four of the crew riding in rear facing seats, sometimes on folding "jump seats" like a London taxi.
Many US appliances still have some of their rear seats facing backwards, and a 2+2+2 configuration is very popular, although by no means universal.
It is too in Germany, where there are also quite a lot of 9 seat pumpers, with three facing the rear on seats behind the driver and OIC...
Some US volunteer fire companies are still buying apparatus with up to 10 seats, and these have four of the crew riding in rear facing seats, sometimes on folding "jump seats" like a London taxi.
Added by Rob Johnson on 04 June 2020.