[AnotherUnixGeek]

I don't remember what the gear selector in a Tesla is like, but that's a common annoyance in modern cars - the old, console mounted mechanical gear selectors in automatic transmission cars are gone, replaced by tiny electronic switches. It takes a few seconds longer to confirm you're in D instead of P or R, and in the dark on a cold night I can see how a distracted, older person might get it wrong.

My next car will have a manual transmission. They're a dwindling breed, but they're still in a few new cars and I miss them.

[TexasGator]

“I can see how a distracted, older person might get it wrong.”

That is what Angela said she did. OTOH, I am 77. From this side, 50 is young!

[Hot Tabasco]

I don't remember what the gear selector in a Tesla is like

It's a gear stalk mounted on the right side of the steering column. Similar to your windshield wiper controls. Nothing like the console gear selectors in gas cars.......

Watching a video on it, I could see how she could easily have flicked it into reverse instead of drive....

[BobL]

“I don’t remember what the gear selector in a Tesla is like”

Probably a pop-up on it’s I-Pad, as literally EVERYTHING else is on it, except the turn signal, and only because the feds forced them to use a real lever-switch.

[meyer]

I don't remember what the gear selector in a Tesla is like, but that's a common annoyance in modern cars - the old, console mounted mechanical gear selectors in automatic transmission cars are gone, replaced by tiny electronic switches.

I have a freakin' knob to select PRDL in my Escape. I do not like that. I really prefer mechanical linkages for as many functions as possible. I figure that anything electronically controlled, in a car with connectivity, can be hacked.

Even the parking brake in modern cars are electronic/electrically operated. If they could, they'd probably get rid of the hydraulic brake systems on cars too (well, actually, with ABS, it can also be controlled).