Apple has introduced a car accident detection function in the iPhone 14 / Pro series mobile phones, which is designed to automatically contact emergency services when a collision is detected.
Car crash detection is available on Apple iPhone 14/Pro series models and the latest Apple Watch. Using sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes, the feature can detect serious crashes and automatically call emergency services if the user doesn’t respond to the alert within 20 seconds.
This function can indeed save lives in emergency situations, but there have been many complaints that it can also be triggered accidentally during skiing, rides, and other non-emergency activities.
Apple has refined collision detection in the last few iOS 16 updates to reduce false positives. In the recently updated car accident detection support document, Apple also changed its advice to users when making an accidental call, instead of hanging up the phone, but explaining to emergency responders that no help is needed.
Apple also removed content from the support document that advised users to cancel calls during the 20-second timer — “If you do not need to contact emergency services, tap Cancel and confirm that you do not need emergency services.”
In other words, Apple hopes that users who make emergency calls by mistake will get through the phone and tell them that they don’t need help, instead of hanging up by themselves.