When you walk backwards with your eyes open, you have a lot of data, and you can move confidently because of the data of where you’ve been.
When you walk forward with your eyes closed / blindfolded, you move very cautiously, because you don’t know what’s going to happen.
Therefore, walking backwards, you move more confidently, and are more likely to trip and fall. Forwards blindfolded, you move more cautiously, and more likely to stub your toe, but not trip and fall.
The problem is direction. If you walk blindly forward you do not know if you accidently skewed on your path at an angle.
Backwards you have confirmation of your angle.
Walking angle is 99% of what your brain cares about.