Apple has been making headlines recently with the release of a new batch of iPhone and Watch models. It also comes with the latest operating system for new and old devices, which offers the latest technology from Cupertino. For car owners and drivers, the latest Apple devices offer something more, something about safety.
Introducing Apple’s new Accident Detection feature, which automatically notifies contacts and emergency services if the device detects that the user has been in a serious car accident. Turns out, crashes weren’t the only thing that triggered the feature.
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According to a report by Wall Street Journal, the new Crash Detection feature can also be triggered by roller coaster rides. An incident in Ohio has documented it, with a two-day-old iPhone 14 Pro owned by Sara White.
Journal reported that White was riding a roller coaster when his iPhone, secured in his backpack, automatically dialed 911, thinking the owner had been in a car accident. The Warren County Communications Center received an emergency call, with an automated voicemail coming from White’s phone.
You can listen to 911 calls via WSJ videowith the message below repeated seven times during the call.
This iPhone owner was in a serious car accident and is not responding to their phone.
For the record, Apple’s Damage Detection works by leveraging three different capabilities of the iPhone 14 range. The barometer detects changes in cabin pressure, while GPS adds feedback about changes in speed. Microphones, on the other hand, can recognize loud noises typical of a car crash.
With this incident, it looks like Apple will need to do some calibration so that the latest phones and Apple Watch can tell the difference between a car crash and a roller coaster.
On the other hand, at least we know it works – as these YouTubers have proven before by crashing old cars.
