Apple Shows How iPhone 14's Car Crash Detection Feature Works in New Video

[MacRumors]

Apple today shared a video explaining how to use the new car crash detection feature enabled by default on all iPhone 14 models, the Apple Watch Series 8, the Apple Watch Ultra, and the second-generation Apple Watch SE.

In a new support document published today, Apple says the crash detection feature is designed to detect severe car crashes, such as front-impact, side-impact, and rear-end collisions or rollovers involving sedans, minivans, SUVs, pickup trucks, and other passenger cars. Apple warns that the feature cannot detect all car crashes.

Apple says if a severe car crash is detected, users will interact with the Apple Watch if they are wearing one. Otherwise, users interact with the iPhone.

When a severe car crash is detected, a supported iPhone or Apple Watch displays an alert and sounds an alarm, according to Apple. If a user is able, they can call emergency services by swiping the Emergency Call slider on the iPhone or Apple Watch, or dismiss the alert. If they do not respond to the alert after 10 seconds, the device begins another 10-second countdown. If they still haven't responded, the device calls emergency services.

The car crash detection feature utilizes sensors like the accelerometer and gyroscope on a supported iPhone or Apple Watch. In a press release, Apple said the feature also relies on "advanced Apple-designed motion algorithms trained with over a million hours of real-world driving and crash record data" for increased accuracy.

Apple's video and support document outline additional information about the car crash detection feature, including important safety considerations.

Article Link: Apple Shows How iPhone 14's Car Crash Detection Feature Works in New Video

 

[Westside guy]

Wait - this is on by default (on new devices)? That seems like a really really bad idea.

 

[WannaGoMac]

I still don’t get why this is iPhone version 14 and the new watch models only. Isn’t this just an accelerometer trick

 

[trip1ex]

can't wait to test this out.

 

[asvictory]

My question is this - If I buy a new iPhone 14/Pro, but have an older watch that supports fall detection & cellular, will the crash be detected on the phone and interaction relayed to the watch? It clearly has automatic emergency notification capable. Maybe I’m ejected from a vehicle and can’t find/reach my brand new phone, but my older watch is right there ready to use for a call? I feel like that’s the type of goodwill that should be added to late model Watches.

 

[haruhiko]

Waiting for our fellow YouTubers to crash test the iPhone.

 

[Starship77]

I still don’t get why this is iPhone version 14 and the new watch models only. Isn’t this just an accelerometer trick

It needs new hardware. A high g accelerometer that detects up to 256 Gs of acceleration and a high dynamic range gyroscope that can detect high speed rotation, like when the car, or your body, are spinning or rolling fast.

 

[UndefinedxJoker]

can't wait to test this out.

Appreciate your sacrifice 👍

 

[carl76tr]

This is perfect. Phone usage now both causes crashes and also calls for cleanup.

 

[Brandon42]

I wonder if the algorithm is smart enough to only call once. If you have a van full of people in an accident you could have 6+ calls made. I could see how that could slow down emergency response time a bit. It seems like you could have a short buffer of accelerometer data that all the devices in a crash share amongst each other to determine all the devices were in the same vehicle that crashed. You could even extend it to be able to report that it was a multi vehicle accident. Anyway, if Apple isn’t doing this then: patent pending.

 

[mthomas184]

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: wreck your car
Step 2: See step 1

 

[citysnaps]

Excellent feature. Hope I or my family will never need it. But glad it's there in case we do.

 

[Mr. Dee]

This is kinda getting creepy. The subliminal message here, if you don't get the iPhone 14, you might die. Thanks for reminding me about my mortality Apple.

 

[LeadingHeat]

These small things are the reason I stick with Apple. You don’t see other companies developing health and safety features like this. They’re too busy bragging about their megapixels.

 

[JosephAW]

Good luck trying to locate your phone after an accident, it could be somewhere in the back of the car or out on the street or who knows where broken.

 

[TheMountainLife]

I wonder if the algorithm is smart enough to only call once. If you have a van full of people in an accident you could have 6+ calls made. I could see how that could slow down emergency response time a bit. It seems like you could have a short buffer of accelerometer data that all the devices in a crash share amongst each other to determine all the devices were in the same vehicle that crashed. You could even extend it to be able to report that it was a multi vehicle accident. Anyway, if Apple isn’t doing this then: patent pending.

I mentioned that in another thread. I wonder how it works in high passenger situations like a train, bus, rollercoaster or plane crash even. I fly quite often and most people do not put their devices in airplane mode and I often forget that toggling airplane mode on my phone doesn't toggle it on my watch.

 

[NicoleF15]

My question is this - If I buy a new iPhone 14/Pro, but have an older watch that supports fall detection & cellular, will the crash be detected on the phone and interaction relayed to the watch? It clearly has automatic emergency notification capable. Maybe I’m ejected from a vehicle and can’t find/reach my brand new phone, but my older watch is right there ready to use for a call? I feel like that’s the type of goodwill that should be added to late model Watches.

If I am ejected from my car in a crash, I'm pretty sure I am going to want emergency services ASAP either way

 

[JosephAW]

Next year will probably hear some stories from Apple how about this feature and how it saved lives.

I wonder if it would disable airplane mode if it detected an accident.

I wonder if this feature would try to activate in satellite mode if no cell signal is detected?

My friend left work early Friday when her husband and two children were just in a car accident, their car rolled over on the roof just by hitting a medium strip at high velocity when they were cut off by an aggressive driver at an exit and their car hit the corner part of the other bumper. Fortunately just cuts and bruises and some bump on the two year old head, possible concussions. Several trips to the hospital but they’re home now recovering, car is totaled, I can see this feature saving lives.

 

[JosephAW]

Now they need to also have fall detection for the phone so when you drop it out of a 10 story window it automatically vibrates to land perfectly on the backside.

 

[DaveWil]

I wonder if there is any record of the accident, in the case of a hit and run. Could it be used in a case to prove someone was in an accident. Just devils advocate thinking.

 

[rjohnstone]

Short of some base models, most cars have this capability already built into them.
Some don’t even require a phone be connected as they have built in services for that.
OnStar, HondaLink, Ford Pass, etc., all have this feature by default.

 

[TVreporter]

“with over a million hours of real-world driving and crash record data" for increased accuracy.”

Nice to see the Apple Car project is progressing…

 

[_Spinn_]

Hopefully I never need this feature.

 

[azhava]

Good luck trying to locate your phone after an accident, it could be somewhere in the back of the car or out on the street or who knows where broken.

Which is why it makes the EMS call if the user doesn't interact with it to cancel it. User could be unconscious or unable to access the phone, so if you don't tell it not to, it's going to notify.

 

[svish]

Hopefully no one will ever need to use this.