Another report is being filed for iPhone 14's creation of 185 false emergency calls in a week.
The model's Crash Detection feature causes an alarm on emergency dispatchers after they recorded an influx of calls from skiers and snowboarders.
Apple Apps Photo Illustrations SOS Emergency Call sign displayed on a phone screen is seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on January 29, 2023. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Apple's Crash Detection Feature and How It Works
Crash Detection was launched in 2022 for all iPhone 14 designs as well as the latest Apple Watch models. This includes Apple's Series 8, Ultra, and second-generation SE.
The feature was made to recognize a severe car crash. When a crash or an accident has been identified, users have 20 seconds to act after seeing an alert on their application.
The device starts another 10-second countdown while sounding an alert and vibrating or tapping, and then dials emergency services if the user is not responsive. If the user did not respond within the timeframe, the device would immediately report the case or call for emergency services. In some cases, however, users are unaware that the feature is active because of noisy surroundings and their bulky clothing. Another limitation of the feature, like in this case, is when it mistakenly identifies a snowboarder maneuvering and tumbling as a car crash.
On Friday, a report that's been reiterated by MacRumors discussed Colorado Summit County's concern. This is the place where a lot of ski resorts are located. A dispatcher and a police officer complained about responding to false 911 calls caused by Apple's devices. According to them, there are no accidents on the actual scene, but because the feature contacts them, their time and effort are being consumed. According to them, the scenario further distracts their attention and brings them away from legitimate emergencies.
"My whole day is managing crash notifications," said Trina Dummer, one of the dispatchers and interim director of Summit County's emergency services.
She recorded 185 false emergency calls concerning the feature from Jan. 13 to Jan. 22. According to her, the typical volume of calls on a busy day is just half of that. She raised the concern that their team only has limited resources and it's being consumed by false calls like these. Mark Watson, a sergeant also said the situation is creating a relevant change in his ability to carry out the duties effectively.
Read Also: Respawn Entertainment To Shut Down Apex Legends Mobile on May 1
Apple's Response
In response to the constant concerns, Apple recognized its Crash Detection feature's ability to trigger emergency services. Its spokesperson said that the company is "aware that in some specific scenarios, these features have triggered emergency services when a user didn't experience a severe car crash or hard fall."
He then highlighted that Apple is doing its best to act on the matter already. Included in their efforts to help the authorities are the optimization they created in 2022. Its Crash Detection program has been updated with iOS 16.1.2 and watchOS 9.2 to reduce the number of false calls. He also highlighted that despite its shortcomings, the feature also created a fair share of saving several lives through alerts.
Apple also claims that the feature has sensors such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, and advanced Apple-designed motion algorithms. The said algorithms were trained with a million hours of true driving and authentic crash data for accuracy.
In their effort to further solve the problem, Apple also sent four representatives from their team to the Summit County call center. This is to observe Dummer, her team, and their calls for a day.
Since this feature was introduced by Apple last year, some reports of false calls were also created in other skiing areas. The places include Colorado, Utah, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and British Columbia.
To date, there is no data yet that can prove Apple's optimizations have led to a reduction in false emergency calls from skiers and snowboarders. According to Mac Rumors, it might also take some time before all users update their iPhones and Apple Watches to the latest software versions.
Related Article: Apple Gathers Feedback From Emergency Dispatchers Over False 911 Calls From Skiers
