Car accidents are a jarring reality, and in severe collisions, every second counts. Fortunately, technological advancements are increasingly offering a safety net. Modern devices, like the latest iPhones and Apple Watches, are equipped with sophisticated crash detection features designed to automatically call for help when you might be unable to. This article delves into how this life-saving technology works, which devices offer it, and how it can be your silent guardian on the road.
How Advanced Technology Detects a Crashed Car and Reacts
Crash Detection is not just a simple sensor; it’s a complex system engineered to identify severe car crashes with remarkable accuracy. It intelligently monitors a range of factors to determine if a serious collision has occurred. These factors include:
- Sudden Deceleration: The system detects abrupt stops and changes in speed, typical of high-impact crashes.
- Direction Changes: It recognizes sudden shifts in vehicle direction, such as those experienced in rollovers or side-impact collisions.
- Impact Force: Sophisticated sensors measure the force of impact, distinguishing between minor bumps and severe collision events.
- Loud Noise Levels: The microphone plays a role by listening for the loud sounds associated with crashes, like the shattering of glass and the crunching of metal.
- Airbag Deployment: If the vehicle’s airbags deploy, this serves as a critical indicator of a significant crash, further confirming the detection.
- Barometric Pressure Changes: Changes in cabin pressure, potentially caused by airbag deployment, can also be a signal.
By analyzing this comprehensive set of data in real-time, the Crash Detection system can confidently identify serious incidents, including front-impact, side-impact, rear-end collisions, and rollovers involving common passenger vehicles like sedans, minivans, SUVs, and pickup trucks.
Your iPhone and Apple Watch can detect severe car crashes
When a Crashed Car scenario is detected, your iPhone or Apple Watch springs into action immediately, even if you are unresponsive. The device will:
- Sound an Alarm and Display an Alert: A loud alarm will sound, and a prominent alert will appear on the screen to gain your attention.
- Verbal Alert (iPhone): If you are using only an iPhone, the device will read the alert aloud, ensuring you are informed even if you cannot see the screen.
- Haptic and Visual Alert (Apple Watch): If you’re using an Apple Watch, it will chime and tap your wrist while displaying an alert, providing both auditory and tactile notifications.
- Emergency Call Slider: An Emergency Call slider will appear on your device screen (on the Apple Watch if both iPhone and Watch are present) allowing you to initiate a call to emergency services with a simple swipe.
- Automatic Emergency Call: If you are unable to respond within 20 seconds, the device will automatically dial emergency services.
- Notification to Emergency Contacts: If you have set up emergency contacts, the system will send them a message with your location, informing them of the crashed car incident.
- Medical ID Access: A Medical ID slider will appear, enabling emergency responders to access your vital medical information directly from your device, which can be crucial for providing appropriate and timely assistance.
It’s important to note that if your vehicle has its own built-in emergency call system, that system will operate independently. Crash Detection will not interfere with or cancel any existing emergency calls initiated by your car. However, it will end any ongoing non-emergency calls on your iPhone or Apple Watch to prioritize the potential emergency situation.
Devices Equipped for Crashed Car Detection
This potentially life-saving feature is available on specific models of iPhones and Apple Watches:
- iPhone Models: iPhone 14 and later models are equipped with Crash Detection. This includes all variations within the iPhone 14, iPhone 15 and subsequent series, running iOS 16 or later.
- Apple Watch Models: Crash Detection is available on Apple Watch Series 8 and newer models, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), and Apple Watch Ultra and later versions, all running watchOS 9 or later.
It’s essential to ensure your devices are updated to the required operating systems to enable Crash Detection functionality. Emergency calls initiated by Crash Detection rely on either a cellular connection or Wi-Fi Calling with a stable internet connection from your Apple Watch or iPhone.
Preparing Your Devices for Emergency Situations After a Crashed Car Incident
While Crash Detection is enabled by default on supported devices, taking a few proactive steps can ensure your device is fully prepared to provide critical information to emergency contacts and first responders in a crashed car scenario.
- Set up Medical ID and Emergency Contacts: Within the Health app on your iPhone, configure your Medical ID with important health information and designate emergency contacts. This allows responders to access crucial medical details and notify your chosen contacts in case of an emergency. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this on Apple’s support website.
- Enable Location Services for Emergency SOS: To ensure your location can be shared with emergency contacts, activate Location Services for Emergency SOS. On your iPhone, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services and ensure “Emergency Calls & SOS” is toggled on.
By taking these simple setup steps, you maximize the effectiveness of Crash Detection and enhance your safety net in the event of a crashed car incident.
Responding to a Crashed Car Alert: What to Do Next
In a crashed car situation where Crash Detection is activated, your response will depend on your condition and the severity of the accident.
If You Are Able to Respond
- Need Emergency Services: If you require assistance, swipe the Emergency Call slider on your device screen. This will connect you to emergency services, allowing you to speak directly with a responder and provide details about the situation and your location if needed.
- Accidental Activation: If the call is initiated but emergency services are not required (perhaps it was a false alarm or a minor incident), do not hang up. Wait for a responder to answer and clearly explain that you do not need assistance. This prevents emergency services from dispatching unnecessarily.
If You Are Unresponsive
- Automatic Call Initiation: If you do not respond to the initial alert within 10 seconds, your device will initiate another 10-second countdown. During this period, it will emit loud whooping sounds and provide aggressive vibrations (iPhone) or taps (Apple Watch) to try and regain your attention.
- Emergency Call and Audio Message: If there is still no response after the countdown, your device will automatically call emergency services. A looped audio message will play to the responders and over your device’s speaker, informing them that your Apple device has detected a severe crashed car incident and that you are unresponsive. The message will also share your estimated location coordinates.
- Multi-Lingual Message: The audio message will be played in the primary language of the country you are in and will repeat every five seconds. After the first repetition, the volume will reduce to allow you or someone nearby to communicate with the emergency responder. You can also manually stop the recorded message if needed.
Privacy Considerations with Crashed Car Detection
Apple has designed Crash Detection with a strong focus on user privacy. Here’s how your data is handled:
- On-Device Processing: Sensor data used for crash detection is processed entirely on your device.
- Data Discarded: Unless you explicitly agree to share data to improve Crash Detection, the sensor data is discarded immediately after a crash is detected.
- Microphone Usage: The microphone is used to detect loud noises indicative of crashes, but only sound levels are analyzed. Raw audio is never collected or stored for Crash Detection purposes.
- Location Sharing for Emergency Services: If Crash Detection contacts emergency services, your device location (latitude and longitude) will be shared, regardless of your Location Services settings. This is crucial for responders to locate you quickly in a crashed car scenario.
Turning Off Crashed Car Detection
While Crash Detection is a valuable safety feature, you have the option to disable it if desired. Disabling it on one paired device will automatically turn it off on all paired devices.
On iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Emergency SOS.
- Toggle Call After Severe Crash to the off position.
On Apple Watch:
- Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to the My Watch tab.
- Tap Emergency SOS.
- Toggle Call After Severe Crash to the off position.
Conclusion: Enhancing Road Safety with Smart Technology
Crashed car detection on iPhones and Apple Watches represents a significant step forward in leveraging technology to enhance road safety. By automatically connecting individuals with emergency services when they may be unable to do so themselves, this feature provides a crucial layer of protection. Understanding how it works and ensuring your devices are properly set up can offer invaluable peace of mind and potentially make a life-saving difference in the event of a severe car accident. While it’s not a substitute for safe driving practices, Crash Detection serves as a powerful and intelligent safety companion on the road.
