Even though this is probably not the first time somebody shifted their car into Drive instead of Reverse, you’d best mind your surroundings when you’re near a body of water.
So here’s a thought for all you careless, head-in-clouds drivers out there: Pay attention to what you’re doing! Focus, learn your car, block out other thoughts and anything that might distract you when you get behind the wheel. Distractions cause accidents.
Most times you get away with it, sure, but sometimes you’ll be parked in a lot that’s just in front of a canal, like this woman did in the city of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China.
Now, she must have really stepped on the gas hard if she didn’t notice immediately that her car’s momentum was carrying her forward instead of backward. Then again, she probably didn’t have much time, especially since she probably turned her head the other way in order to watch out for pedestrians or other vehicles behind her.
But seriously now, in the CLA you’ve got your gear selector behind the steering wheel and you press down on it all the way for Drive and push it up all the way for Reverse. How can you get those two confused?
With a regular center-console shifter at least you might be able to say that you threw it into Drive by accident because you were in a hurry – beginners tend to do that.
Still, we’re glad she’s OK and that she managed to climb out and got back to shore safely.
Story references: Carnewschina