CVT design question

So my parents just bought a 2015 CR-V a few weeks ago with the CVT, one of only three non-manual transmission vehicles they've owned in their lifetime. They're both getting used to it, but my dad said that he's so used to shifting that he nearly shifted the shifter into reverse when he was on the highway. We both wondered if modern CVTs had some sort of safety mechanism, either electronic or mechanical, that prevented this type of user error.  

If you take the cover off the gearshift, you should see whether it's shift-by-cable or electronic. I'd think an electronic shifter would just refuse it or put the car in neutral until it stopped.

Yeah I don't think any stock vehicle manufactured after about 1980 will actually go into reverse on the highway.

In reply to Robbie :

We're definitely a manual trans family and I think the last auto trans my dad owned was his '65 Bel Air in, yes, 1965. 

Robbie said:

Yeah I don't think any stock vehicle manufactured after about 1980 will actually go into reverse on the highway.

This.....

All modern cars are required to have a lock out between N and R. Unless something is broken your foot has to be on the brake to go into R and P .

appliance_racer said:

Robbie said:

Yeah I don't think any stock vehicle manufactured after about 1980 will actually go into reverse on the highway.

This.....

All modern cars are required to have a lock out between N and R. Unless something is broken your foot has to be on the brake to go into R and P .

and even if you can get the shifter there, the trans will not even attempt the shift. 

Most won't even shift into Drive if you're rolling backwards.

Robbie said:

Yeah I don't think any stock vehicle manufactured after about 1980 will actually go into reverse on the highway.

I will disagree. I bumped an 84 Suburban 6.2 diesel/700R into reverse at 60mph. All it did was chirp the rear tires and kill the engine.... somehow. Freaked 18yo me out for sure. 

In reply to bobzilla :

I did that in my 99 1-ton Chevy van too, though it didn’t kill the engine(or the trans, fortunately).