Hey i just saw this episode where they were trying to stop cars going at 50km/h by throwing it in reverse or park. It didnt work but thats not what the test should be. The test should be - Pressing the brake then shifting into reverse then slamming the gas - and seeing if you can get the car to stop faster than slamming the brake alone. I think this is a plausible myth worth testing that im not willing to wreck my car for. What the show tested before was useless because the reverse gear will not engage with out the brake pressed.

I agree I think when they did it without using the brakes at all it wrecked the gears...it makes sense to me that if you slammed on the brakes and caused the wheels to skid it would be easier on the transmission and might actually make it possible to actually get the wheels spinning in reverse....I imagine it would be easier to achieve if you had a car that didnt have anti lock brakes