The Prius is a different breed of car. I test drove one with my wife. There is no key. Ok, there is a key, but there is no ignition key. The key is just a card, like a credit card and you keep it in your wallet. If the key is anywhere within a certain distance of the car, then the car is operational. You push a button called D. That's all you do. There is no R,1,2,N,D,O like a normal car. There is D and there is R. You sure can't push the R button when moving forward..the car won't even let you if it was possible anyhow. For the Prius, I can absolutely see how someone could get stuck for 20 minutes running 94 mph, because there is no off button. When you stop the car, you get out and walk away, that's it. Now I imagine if he had thrown the key out the window, maybe the car would have turned off, but I can't say for sure. There is that issue of turning off the car will prevent any braking power and steering power. We all know that you can steer a car without power assist, be we also all know that if you turn the key off in a modern vehicle, then the steering wheel can only be turned a tiny bit before it locks and then will not move at all..that would be extra bad.
If this had not been a Prius, then I'd sure agree that the driver needs a smack. You just toss the car into neutral, that's it. The engine will not over rev and blow up either, because they have a limiter on them. So then it is simply out of gear and you can use your breaks to slow you down or just coast to a stop. I do not know if any of the other hybrids operate with the same ideas as the Prius. It is a very strange and scary type of vehicle.
