Following its fall launch event, Apple recently shared a video explaining how to use the new crash detection feature enabled by default on all iPhone 14 series models, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch SE 2.
In a new support document released by Apple, Apple said the crash detection feature is designed to detect serious crashes, such as those involving cars, minivans, SUVs, pickup trucks and other passenger vehicles. Apple warns that the feature cannot detect all car crashes.
Apple said that if a serious crash is detected, users will be able to interact with their Apple Watch while wearing it. Otherwise, users will interact with their iPhones.
According to Apple, a supported iPhone or Apple Watch will display a warning and send an alert when a serious crash is detected. If users are capable, they can call emergency services by swiping the emergency call slider on their iPhone or Apple Watch or turning off the alert. If they don’t respond to the alert after 10 seconds, the device will start another 10-second countdown. If they still don’t respond, the device will call emergency services.
The crash detection feature uses sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes on a supported iPhone or Apple Watch. Apple says the feature also relies on “advanced motion algorithms designed by Apple and trained with over one million hours of real driving and crash recording data” to improve accuracy.
Apple’s video and support documentation outline additional information about the crash detection feature, including important safety considerations.
