Michael Bishop is that most passengers do not prefer to fly backwards; they are actually more frightened of flying backwards than of flying forwards, even though it has been explained to them that it is infinitely safer to fly backwards rather than the opposite. (UK Kegworth, ten years on) It was in the year 1991 that the Transport Committee produced a Report on the Aircraft Cabin Safety, in which it was stated that cabin improvements would still not save about 64% of the fatalities that are caused by air crashes, and in about 22% of the accidents, such improvements would not make any difference at all, and that it was only in about 14% of such fatalities that the survival rates would be improved by the implementation of improvements and safety measures. The Report also analyzed the recommendations for rearward facing seats, and stated that it was because of this fact that the crew of the aircraft had escaped with very minor injuries, and that this was a general seating arrangement in military aircraft because it reduced the danger to the passengers. However, even if there were to be rearward facing seats, certain safety measures would have to be followed here too, like for example, the seats would have to be mounted higher, with higher backs, and would have to be considerably...

A major disadvantage of rear facing seats, according to the Report, was that the passenger would be more exposed to flying objects from overhead cabins in case of an impact, and the danger of such objects injuring the passenger would then be increased. In addition, the passenger would actually 'tip' forward in the case of a rough take-off, because he would be sitting facing that way. Therefore, it is clear that the rearward facing seating has both advantages as well as disadvantages, and it would take more research and analysis for it to be implemented successfully in a commercial aircraft. (Aircraft Cabin Safety)
References

Aircraft Cabin Safety. The United Kingdom Parliament. Retrieved at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199899/cmselect/cmenvtra/275/27510.htm. Accessed on 12 January, 2005

Kegworth Air Disaster. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 3 Aug 2004 Retrieved at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kegworth_Air_DisasterAccessed on 12 January, 2005

UK Kegworth, ten years on. BBC News. January 8, 1999. Retrieved at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/250959.stm. Accessed on 12 January, 2005