Key Off - "Auto" shift into Park?!

[Lone Ridr]

Automatic Return to Park is not a federal mandate. There is a Federal Rollaway regulation for vehicles with an automatic transmission with a park position. Ford vehicles would pop out of park on their own all the way back to the 80's resulting in property damage, injury, and death. The one I most remember was a transport van. The operator positioned a man in a wheelchair behind the van and went forward to turn the engine off. The van popped into reverse, killing the patient. There were 6 deaths nationwide. The "fix" was to put a sticker in the front window of the Ford vans telling the operator not to leave the vehicle running unattended. Alcoa originally had a safety rule that you had to stay within 25 feet of your running vehicle. The question was on the safety test. The GM manuals clearly stated to not leave the vehicle running unattended. It took me several years to get the GM wording written into their safety procedures. Wonder why vehicle prices are going up? Look what they are doing to traction control. In 1967, I had a C10 Chevy truck with a "Detroit Locker" differential. If one of the rear wheels slipped, the differential locked the axles so neither wheel would slip. This was done mechanically. Now the manufacturers are selling you computer-controlled differentials that cost money and gives the owners many more opportunities for repair expenses. What is out of control is manufacturers forcing stuff down my throat at increased cost. I know how to drive. Keep your computer stuff (except convenience features) out of my way. Another example:Ford has collision avoidance. They spend a lot of money implementing it then tell the owner that they are still responsible for the operation of the vehicle. How did we ever manage to drive without all these computer controls. I can't walk by my truck without hearing computers clicking. On top of that, they are tattle-tailing on me. Sheesh! Ah, but these expensive computer controls are a good topic of discussion.

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[Glen Baker LLC]

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending upon your viewpoint.
The technology genie has been released. I don't think you're going to get that back in the bottle.

Then there's this

NHTSA: 50 Years of Vehicle Safety Standards Saved Hundreds of Thousands of Lives, Prevented Millions of Injuries
From 1968 through 2019, NHTSA's safety standards prevented more than 860,000 deaths on the nation's roads, 49 million nonfatal injuries, and damage to 65 million vehicles. In 2019 alone, these standards prevented about 40,000 deaths, 1.9 million nonfatal injuries, and damage to 3.8 million vehicles.

Heck my newer motorcycles had ABS and electronic fuel injection.
The fuel injection was nice riding up mountain passes and having it compensate for the altitude.