Apple has released new guidelines for accident detection on iPhones and Apple Watches. The latest feature is designed to automatically trigger an emergency call in the event of an accident. However, there have been complaints that the feature could trigger incorrectly during certain situations like skiing accidents or certain rides at amusement parks.
To reduce false alarms, Apple has made software tweaks in recent iOS 16 updates. Now, it is recommended that users explain to the emergency services if no help is needed instead of hanging up when an accidental call is triggered. Additionally, Apple has removed the instruction that advises users to end a call during the timer.
Apple has sent several employees to a Colorado rescue center to understand the issue better and make further tweaks. In ski areas, these accidental calls created frustration among rescue workers. According to reports, 185 false alarms were received in just seven days.
The Crash Detection function is available in the latest iPhone 14 and Apple Watch models. It uses sensor data to detect an accident using acceleration, noise, changes in position, and jerky movements. If no response is received within 20 seconds, it will automatically raise an emergency call.
It is important for Apple to reduce the number of false alarms, as it can result in emergency responders wasting valuable time and resources. While the new guidelines and tweaks may not eliminate all false alarms, they are a step in the right direction to improve the overall effectiveness of the Crash Detection feature.
