iPhone 14's Crash Detection Mistaking Roller Coaster Rides for Car Crashes - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPhone 14's Crash Detection Mistaking Roller Coaster Rides for Car Crashes

The iPhone 14's Crash Detection feature is accidentally being triggered and therefore calling emergency services when users are riding a roller coaster rather than being involved in a real automotive accident.

iPhone 14 Car Crash Detection
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, several users of the new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro at amusement parks across the United States have reported emergency services and contacts being alerted that they've been involved in a car crash as they've ridden roller coasters. The accidental trigger of Apple's latest safety features is likely caused by the sudden braking and movement of roller coasters, triggering the iPhone's sensors to misinterpret the movement as a car crash.

The Wall Street Journal reports at least six incidents of emergency services being called for false alarms. In response to the false alarms, an Apple spokesperson said Apple tested the feature with over a million hours of car crash data and real-world driving analysis. Several tests have already been done to test the accuracy of the iPhone 14's Crash Detection, with varying results.

In response to a test done by The Wall Street Journal in a junkyard where the iPhone failed to notice some car crashes, Apple said the testing condition did not provide the iPhone with enough factors to trigger an alert. Apple said the iPhones were not connected to Bluetooth or CarPlay and may not have traveled enough distance before impact for the device to register the crash. Crash Detection is available on the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Ultra.

Related Forums: Apple Watch, iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium

New Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 Features Revealed

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:54 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today further outlined what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 set to be unveiled on September 9. While it was initially rumored that Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch this year, Gurman reiterated that he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models. ...
apple watch series 12

Apple Watch Series 12: Everything to Expect Next Month

Monday August 24, 2026 8:55 am PDT by
The Apple Watch Series 12 is almost certain to be introduced at Apple's annual iPhone event next month, and the rumors point to another quieter upgrade year for the device. Apple has not altered the Apple Watch's design since the Series 10 arrived in 2024, and it is not expected to change this year either, making 2026 the third year of the current case. This isn't unusual since every Apple...
apple watch heart health ad

'I Wouldn't Be Talking to You': Apple Shares Apple Watch Survival Story

Wednesday September 2, 2026 10:25 am PDT by
Apple today shared a short video featuring an Apple Watch user named Amanda who says her device saved her life. In 2024, Amanda began receiving alerts about an abnormal heart rate. Her watch alerted her about changes to her resting heart rate and her overnight vitals, prompting her to visit her doctor. She ended up being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive cancer. After...

Top Rated Comments

51 months ago

I am 100% sure theme parks would not allow guests to bring their phones onto the rollercoasters.
Wut? It will just be in the pockets of those on the rollercoaster.
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
51 months ago
and those youtubers destroyed cars when they could have been doing this instead !
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
51 months ago
What world we are living in - living at the mercy of our phones.
If this is a problem that is worth making a big deal out of.... Jesus!

There is a mental recession going around this planet, not just financial.

Turn the darn car crash detection before jumping into such rides and go about your life.
Humanity has reached the peak of boredom and makes drama about the most irrelevant things.

What's next? Without devices we won't go out of the house soon? 🤕🤕🤕
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NightFox Avatar
51 months ago

Who takes their iPhone on a roller coaster in the first place?
I'd imagine close on 100% of iPhone owners who go on rollercoasters?
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
51 months ago

Who takes their iPhone on a roller coaster in the first place?
The same people that take them to the beach, on the water, up a mountain.....
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NightFox Avatar
51 months ago

I am 100% sure theme parks would not allow guests to bring their phones onto the rollercoasters.
I can't even begin to count the number of theme parks I've been to in the US, Europe and Middle East, yet I've never been to a park or even one single ride where mobile phones were not allowed.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)