iPhone 14: How Crash Detection Works and How to Turn It Off
With the launch of the iPhone 14 and new Apple Watch models, Apple introduced a new security feature called Crash Detection. Read on to learn what it is, how it works, and how to turn it on and off.
What is crash detection?
Crash Detection is used to detect serious car accidents in passenger vehicles. If you’re in a serious accident and become unresponsive, your Apple device can automatically call emergency services on your behalf.
How does crash detection work?
While you’re driving or a passenger in a motor vehicle, the motion sensor works in tandem with a high-dynamic-range gyroscope and high-G accelerometer, GPS, barometer, microphone, and advanced motion algorithms in your iPhone or Apple Watch to accurately detect a crash .
When a hard crash is detected, a warning will appear on the display of your Apple Watch or iPhone for 10 seconds. If you’re still responsive, you can swipe the screen to call emergency services instantly, or dismiss the alarm when you don’t need to contact them. If you haven’t interacted with your Apple device after 10 seconds, a 10-second countdown begins. When it ends, emergency services will be contacted.
When emergency services call, the following audio message from Siri begins playing in an endless loop with five seconds of silence between each repeat: “The owner of this iPhone was in a serious car accident and is not responding to his phone.” Siri then gives your estimated location with latitudes – and longitude and search radius to both emergency services and through your device’s speaker.
The message is at its loudest the first time it is played, after which other replays have a reduced volume in case you are able to speak to emergency services. The message will be repeated until you tap the Stop Recorded Message button or the call ends.
If you’ve set up emergency contacts, they’ll also be notified of the crash after another 10-second countdown, and if you’ve configured medical ID information, a slider will appear on the lock screen for quick access.
What types of crashes can it detect?
According to Apple, Crash Detection can recognize frontal collisions, side collisions, rear-end collisions and rollovers.
Which Apple devices support crash detection?
Crash Detection is supported on the following “iPhone” and Apple Watch models.
How to enable crash detection
No setup is required. Crash detection is enabled by default on the supported devices above, so you don’t need to do anything. If you’re concerned that the feature might falsely register a crash and call emergency services, you can turn it off by following the steps below.
How to disable crash detection
- start the settings App on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap through Emergency SOS.
- Under Crash Detection, turn the switch next to off Call after serious crash.
If you ever want to enable the feature, just toggle the switch back on in Settings.