Apple responds to video tests of crash detection feature with junkyard vehicles

The Wall Street Journal‘s Joanna Stern recently traveled to Michigan to test Apple’s new crash detection feature on the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Ultra. In response, Apple provided some additional information on how the feature works.

Stern recruited Michael Barabe to crash his heavy steel-frame demolition derby car into two unoccupied vehicles parked in a junkyard — a 2003 Ford Taurus and a 2008 Dodge Caravan. The results were mixed, with the iPhone and Apple Watch only detecting some of the crashes, which Apple says was the result of junkyard testing conditions that didn’t provide enough “signals” to trigger the feature every time.

When I contacted Apple with the results, a company spokesman said the test conditions at the junkyard didn’t provide enough signals to the iPhone to trigger the feature in the stopped cars. It wasn’t connected to Bluetooth or CarPlay, which would indicate the car was in use, and the vehicles may not have traveled far enough to indicate driving prior to the accident. Had the iPhone received those additional displays — and had its GPS indicated the cars were on a real road — there would have been a greater chance of an alert, he said.

According to Apple, its crash detection capability relies on “advanced Apple-developed motion algorithms that have been trained on over a million hours of real-world driving and crash recording data.” Stern outlined the various hardware sensors and software algorithms that help detect a crash on supported iPhone and Apple Watch models:

• Motion sensors: All devices have a three-axis gyroscope and a high-speed accelerometer that samples movements more than 3,000 times per second. This means the devices can detect the exact moment of impact and any change in the vehicle’s movement or trajectory.

• Microphones: The microphones are used to detect loud sound levels that could indicate an accident. The mics only turn on when driving is detected, and no actual sound is recorded, Apple says.

• Barometer: If the airbags deploy when the windows are closed, the barometer can detect a change in air pressure.

• GPS: readings can be used to detect speeds before an accident and sudden lack of movement and to inform the device that it is driving on a road.

• CarPlay and Bluetooth: When connected, they give the algorithms another signal that the phone is on board a car, so it can look out for an accident.

Crash Detection is enabled by default on the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE second generation, and Apple Watch Ultra. The function can be found in the “Settings” app under “Emergency SOS” → “Call after fatal crash” and is not available on older iPhone and Apple Watch models.

According to Apple’s website, the crash detection feature is designed to detect “major” car accidents, such as “frontal, side, and rear-end collisions, and rollovers” involving “sedans, minivans, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc. other passenger vehicles.” Apple warns that the feature ” cannot detect all car accidents”, so it is not fail-safe.

If a serious car accident is detected, a supported iPhone or Apple Watch will display a warning and sound an alarm, according to Apple. If a user is able, they can call 911 by swiping the 911 slider on iPhone or Apple Watch, or dismiss the alarm. If they don’t respond to the alarm after 10 seconds, the device will begin another 10-second countdown. If they still haven’t responded, the device calls emergency services.

Apple says if a serious car crash is detected, users will interact with the Apple Watch if they’re wearing one. Otherwise, users interact with the iPhone.

All in all, while Stern said her test wasn’t exactly scientific, it’s reassuring that the feature caught some of the crashes. However, stationary vehicle testing in a controlled environment can never truly replicate a road impact.