On Roller Coasters, the iPhone 14 Constantly Dials 911: Update

The new Crash Detection feature on the iPhone 14 accidentally calls 911 when you're on rollercoasters even though it's meant to notify authorities when it senses you've been in a car accident.  Reports claimed that the function has resulted in law enforcement being dispatched to amusement parks on multiple occasions after mistaking the twists, turns, and hard braking of a thrill ride for an actual emergency. Apple released Crash Detection with the new iPhone 14, Watch Series 8, SE, and Ultra last month.  The devices were fitted with a gyroscopic sensor and a high-g accelerometer that was tuned to the impact felt with simulated auto accidents.  Your iPhone will display an alert if the sensors determine you've been in an accident and, if you don't dismiss it within 20 seconds, will call emergency services. When it dials 911, it will play an audio message alerting the operator that you have been in a collision and giving them your position.  Apple devices used by a number of customers did exactly that, but at the wrong moment. Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal tweets an illustration of a 911 call made by an iPhone 14 user while he or she was restrained on a ride at Cincinnati's Kings Island amusement park.  The rollercoaster is running its course, and in the background, when the recorded message is being played, you can hear muffled cries. In a demolition derby-style experiment conducted last month, Stern tested Apple's Crash Detection feature and discovered that it isn't totally reliable.  Although Crash Detection recently assisted in spotting and informing authorities about a deadly collision in Nebraska, the feature undoubtedly has some shortcomings. Since the iPhone 14's debut, six emergency calls have been made from Warren County, where Kings Island is located, according to Stern. She further notes that other customers have reported having the same problems in amusement parks all around the nation. The potential of erroneous 911 calls may be an even stronger argument to leave the iPhone 14 (and other devices) behind before boarding that bumper car.  Bringing smartphones on rides isn't really a good idea in the first place. If not, you have the option of turning off the feature entirely or putting your phone in airplane mode.