Apple has published new recommendations for accident detection in the iPhone and the Apple Watch. The function introduced with the iPhone 14 models is intended to automatically trigger an emergency call in the event of an accident. However, there have been complaints in the past that the feature would also trigger incorrectly in certain situations. This happened, for example, in skiing accidents or in amusement parks in certain rides such as a roller coaster.
To reduce false alarms, Apple has made software tweaks in recent iOS 16 updates. Well the company recommends to users in a support documentnot to hang up when an accidental call is triggered, but to explain to the emergency services that no assistance is needed.
Several false alarms in the ski area
Additionally, Apple removed an instruction from the support document advising users to end a call during the timer. The company wants to avoid them dropping or hanging up on an emergency call that has already started, leaving emergency responders in the dark. Currently, the change has only been incorporated into the English-language version. The German version is still online with the old wording.
The accidental calls from the “Crash Detection” function had caused displeasure, especially among rescue workers in ski areas. Apple sent several employees to a Colorado rescue center to better understand the issue and make further tweaks. From there it was previously reported that 185 false alarms had been received in seven days alone.
Function uses sensor data
Available in the iPhone 14 models and the latest Apple Watch models, Crash Detection can detect a serious car accident and automatically raise an emergency call if there is no response to a notification within 20 seconds. The function uses data from various sensors to detect acceleration, noise, changes in position and jerky movements that indicate an accident.
(mki)
