Interesting that when the 1st gen dmus were introduced in the 1950s & 60s, the views they afforded through the front windows were a major part of their marketting. Also, they would then have been driven mainly by ex-steam men, who you would think would find it very hard to get used to curious and observant passengers immediately behind them, but they seemed to have no problems.
IIRC it was not until later on in the 70s and 80s that they started leaving the blinds down all the time, when they would be beginning to be driven by men who had not known steam. This seems to be when the concept of the cab as the office came in, along with the need for privacy.
So, are there any who can remember if the unions were consulted about the lack of privacy when the dmus were originally designed and introduced? Certainly, if these objections were voiced at the outset they seemed to be unheeded, for, as far as I know, all builds of dmus over 8 years or so had forward views except the Thumpers and the Cl 123s.
And then why the drivers' change of attitude in the 70s and 80s? And what was the management's stand on this change, bearing in mind the original marketting of the stock and the obvious popularity of being able to see out of the front? Did they sanction leaving the blinds down all day. Did they leave it to the drivers concerned. Did they care?