iPhone feature triggers false 911 calls from rollercoasters

JIMMIE JOHNSON: A NEW SAFETY FEATURE ON APPLE’S IPHONE 14 IS MEANT TO ALERT AUTHORITIES YOU’VE BEEN IN A CAR CRASH — BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYS IT HAS A GLITCH.

IT DIALS 9-1-1 PROMPTING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT AMUSEMENT PARKS.

SINCE ITS RELEASE, AUTHORITIES IN CINCINNATI HAVE RECEIVED SIX EMERGENCY CALLS TRIGGERED BY THE TWISTS, TURNS, AND THE HARD BREAKING OF A ROLLERCOASTER.
THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN OTHER ENTERTAINMENT PARKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

APPLE ROLLED OUT CRASH DETECTION WITH ITS NEW IPHONE 14 AND WATCH SERIES 8 LAST MONTH. WHILE IT DID RECENTLY HELP DETECT AND ALERT AUTHORITIES ABOUT A FATAL CRASH IN NEBRASKA, THE FEATURE CLEARLY HAS FLAWS.

APPLE SAYS THE CRASH DETECTION IS ON BY DEFAULT. SO, BEFORE YOU GET ON A ROLLER COASTER OR JUMP IN A BUMPER CAR, PUT YOUR PHONE ON AIRPLANE MODE OR DISABLE THE FEATURE IN SETTINGS TO LIMIT THE RISK OF FALSE 911 CALLS.