Nearly drove my one day old Prius into a wall

There's currently a debate on whether this behavior should be considered a natural reflex or a sign of early dementia:

http://www.priuschat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6909

For what it's worth, I've done this on several occasions. You're absolutely right that you shift down from park in a conventional automatic transmission - relearning to shift up from park to reverse took a few months.

 

Don't worry you won't break your new toy. I think the scare you put into yourself will see to that .

I also admited in the other thread to having done the same thing on a couple of occasions. I mean I want to keep my car close, but parking it in my bedroom might just be a bit much.

While you are getting used to your new car it might be helpful to make visual and audible checks before you take your foot off the brake. I actually look at my hand then check the dash display to make sure that the car is really in R before I start trying to back out. Also, as the car is pretty quiet when reversing a cautious approach is in order.

I also drove a 5 speed just prior to getting my car and still sometimes find myself wanting to shift after a stop. Old habits do die hard.

Good luck,

Tisza

 

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I've shifted the wrong way once. In over a year of having the car. I think Toyota made the right decision to design it the way they did.

Dave

 

I' ve done it twice so far and attribute it to excessive boating.

 

:roll: I am more likely to do a single-windshield-wipe when trying to shift to reverse. :roll: SIGH

 

I guess this is why Toyota put in the reverse beep, and one reason why I won't disable it, in case I think I'm in one 'gear' and am not.

-m.

 

yup, this is me. Our other vehicle is an automatic with the shifter on the column. About 10% of the time, when I go for reverse, I end up with a super-clean winshield! Same for coming out of reverse and into drive!

 

I must have been really overtired without really feeling it. I came out of Taco Bell, and I couldn't remember how to put the lights on. Kept thinking they were on the right stick but remembered that was the wipers.

I think I already had them on, either because of Auto Off, or I instinctively turned them on just before I started the car.

Decided to try and get extra rest for the next couple of days.