The iPhone 14 hit the market in September with a brand new feature: crash detection. The new crash detection feature is also available on the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE (second generation) and Apple Watch Ultra. To use crash detection on one of these watches, make sure you’ve updated your operating system.
But, what exactly is crash detection? How does it work? Is it a reliable safety feature? And what’s all this we’re hearing about roller coasters?
What is Apple Crash Detection?
Apple says crash detection is designed to detect “severe” crashes and–if necessary–call for help. The system works slightly differently on your iPhone than it does on a watch, but the general process is the same. When the device believes it has detected a crash, it sends an alert. If it’s a false alarm or you were in a minor fender bender and prefer to move to the side of the road, exchange insurance information, and call the police directly, you have 20 seconds to cancel.
If you don’t respond, your device will place a call to emergency services–as long as it has access to either a cellular or Wi-Fi signal. That means if you’re seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash and lose consciousness or are unable to make a call, your Apple Watch or iPhone 14 will attempt to do it for you. If you’ve added emergency contacts, they’ll be alerted as well. If you’ve enabled Location Services for Emergencies & SOS, they’ll get your location, too.
There’s an added benefit for those who have serious allergies or underlying medical conditions: if you’ve set up Medical ID, your device will display a medical information slider so that first responders can easily access that important information.
What if I Have My Own Crash Detection?
Apple says crash protection won’t interfere with any vehicle-based system you may be using. While crash protection will terminate non-emergency calls to alert authorities that you’ve been in an accident and may need help, it won’t cut off emergency calls.
Can I Rely on Apple Crash Detection?
Apple warns that crash detection may not detect all crashes. If crash detection is important to you, you’ll obviously want to know when, how, and how well it works. But, it’s not like other features on your phone. It’s simple enough to test “find my phone” when your phone is not lost. You can make sure the feature is enabled and working, and also see how it works. Obviously, you can’t try out a few car accidents to see how your iPhone or Apple Watch responds.
Others have done that for you, and the results have been mixed.
Crash Detection False Alarms
“False positives” in crash detection are less dangerous than failure to report a serious accident, but they’re getting more press so far. Some of these reports are humorous, such as the numerous reports of crash detection alerting on roller coasters. So far, there haven’t been any reported roller coaster alerts from Cedar Point, and one test run suggested that Cedar Point coasters don’t trigger crash detection. But, emergency calls from amusement park rides have been reported at several other parks, including Kings Island.
Others are much more alarming. You may have heard the story of Douglas Sonders, whose brand new iPhone 14 Max Pro fell from his moving motorcycle in September. Sonders got an alert that bluetooth had disconnected, looked and saw that his phone was gone, and thought his biggest problem was the loss or destruction of a brand new phone.
What Sonders (who was now traveling without a phone) didn’t know was that crash detection had alerted his family that he’d been in a traffic accident. In the roughly 45 minutes he was out of touch, his mother and brother were calling hospitals in the area where the phone had reported the crash looking for him, and his girlfriend had hit the road to find him. Though “crash” was a reasonable interpretation of the event, since the phone fell from a vehicle moving at about 60 mph and hit the ground, this incident shows the limitations of technological solutions like crash detection.
Of greater concern is whether and when crash detection might fail to report a serious accident.
Crash Detection Testing
Everyone from YouTubers to the Wall Street Journal has conducted testing to find out just how well crash detection works. The tests range from empty vehicles being pointed at objects and turned loose in open fields to a demolition driver crashing into other vehicles with an EMT on standby.
The results were mixed.
In all of the tests we watched, the iPhone/Apple Watch crash detection alerted whenever a moving vehicle struck another object hard enough to bring the vehicle to a stop. But, there appear to be some blind spots. For example, if you’re sitting in your car on a cold winter morning waiting for the engine to warm up and another car plows into yours, crash detection may not work because you haven’t started driving yet, and your device may not understand that it’s in a vehicle.
The Bottom Line on Crash Detection
Most serious motor vehicle accidents occur when both vehicles are in traffic, or when a single vehicle makes contact with a fixed object like a lane barrier. Several tests showed that crash detection worked well in that type of collision. But, like any technology, the current iteration has some weak points.
While you can’t rely on the system alerting authorities or your loved ones in every potential crash situation, it’s a helpful safety feature in many circumstances. And, the risks associated with false positives are fairly limited, as long as you’re aware of them. For example, consider turning off your phone or turning off the crash detection feature when you’re getting on a roller coaster or similar ride that travels at high speeds and may stop abruptly.
If you get an accidental alert, be sure to take advantage of the 20 second delay to cancel the alert before anyone is notified. This will help prevent diversion of emergency resources and help ensure that your family isn’t unnecessarily alarmed. And, if something crazy happens, like your iPhone 14 flying out the car window, be aware that if you have emergency contacts listed, they’ll be getting an alarming text message and you should make contact right away.
Getting Help After a Car Accident
Crash detection sending for emergency assistance can be just the first step in a long period of recovery and rebuilding. If you’ve been in a serious car crash, it’s in your best interest to talk to an experienced Ohio personal injury lawyer right away. The attorneys at Plevin & Gallucci have been representing injury victims in and around Cleveland for decades, and know how important it is for you to have accurate information and guidance right away.
You can schedule a free consultation right now by calling 855-4PLEVIN or filling out the contact form on this page.
