Apple Directs Users Not to Hang Up on Operators in Accidental Crash Detection Calls

With the iPhone 14 models, Apple introduced a Crash Detection feature that is designed to contact emergency services automatically should a collision be detected. Crash Detection has already saved lives, but there have also been a number of complaints about the option accidentally triggering at ski resorts, amusement parks, and in other non-emergency high-activity situations.

iphone 14 pro car crash detection
Apple has introduced Crash Detection optimizations in the last several iOS 16 updates to try to cut down on false calls, and now the company has new recommendations for users that accidentally activate the crash detection feature. In an updated Crash Detection support document, Apple directs users not to hang up if an accidental call is placed, and to instead explain to the emergency responder that help is not required.

If the call has been made, but you don't need emergency services, don't hang up. Wait until a responder answers, then explain that you don't need help.

Apple also removed a line in the support document that suggested users cancel a call during the timer period. "If you don't need to contact emergency services, tap Cancel and confirm that you don't need emergency services," read the sentence that has been pulled from the document.

The Crash Detection support site continues to suggest that users should dismiss an alert if they are able to do so, but Apple appears to want to put a stop to ‌iPhone‌ users canceling or hanging up on an already-started emergency call and leaving emergency responders wondering what happened.

Emergency dispatchers around ski slopes have been particularly unhappy with the number of accidental calls that are being received from Crash Detection. Skiing and snowboarding tumbles are able to trigger Crash Detection, and with the heavy clothing worn with these activities, ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch users sometimes don't notice that an emergency call has been placed.

In Colorado's Summit County, for example, 185 accidental Crash Detection calls were received in a week in January, wasting time and resources needed for actual emergencies. Summit County emergency services director Trina Dummer said in February that the situation threatens to "desensitize dispatchers and divert limited resources from true emergencies."

Apple in response sent four representatives to Summit County to observe the emergency call center, and further optimizations have since been added.

Crash Detection is available on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 models and the latest Apple Watch models. Using sensors like the accelerometer and gyroscope, it can detect a severe car crash and automatically call emergency services if a user does not respond to an alert within 20 seconds.

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Top Rated Comments

JPack Avatar
25 months ago
This message should be shown on the iPhone, not buried in a support document.
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MallardDuck Avatar
25 months ago
"We can't fix our logic, so it's your responsibility to solve our problem for us"

Seriously, how hard is it to geofence off the ski slopes?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3530025 Avatar
25 months ago

This feature gets a lot of hate on here sometimes.

Personally, I had a bike accident about a year ago and broke some bones. As I was gathering myself, the siren started to go off and I was able to cancel it. Luckily, I didn't need it to call 911, but I was very thankful for it going off. I guess that is why I'd rather it be a little too sensitive instead of not sensitive enough. This is one of those things that will never be perfect and that is okay.
This is one view.

Let me give you another standpoint - emergency services have limited capacity and because of these false calls reaction to actual emergency can be delayed and someone may die consequently.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
25 months ago
Users direct Apple to fix their ****.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Amazing Iceman Avatar
25 months ago
Why not create a sports mode that would also detect crashes but using an adjusted algorithm?
This way, if a skier has an accident and gets covered in snow, he/she could also be saved.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coolfactor Avatar
25 months ago

This feature is some hot mess. Can't understand how it could have been approved when it is not and can not be false-positive proof and so it overloads emergency services and it will continue to do so.
That's black-and-white thinking. There will never been a "perfect" implementation. The goal is to *reduce* false-positives. This feature has saved lives and Apple continues to work hard to refine the detection algorithm. We know and appreciate that. It would be silly to demand that they remove this feature because it's not "perfect".
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)