iPhones with Crash Detection and how it works

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Crash Detection is a feature installed on the iPhone 14 and all later models. How it works is that your phone sends a signal to first responders through satellites after a sudden stop like from a car crash. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office reminds everyone that while this feature can save lives, it doesn't always trigger when it should.

Sheriff Jeff Smith says his dispatchers have answered 16 SOS calls since June. Every alert is treated like a serious emergency and police are sent to investigate. Recently, the sheriff said they have been getting more and more false alarms. "Sometimes we have startled people. Like the people on their lawnmowers and they're wondering why we're there chasing them down in their lawn."

That's because when your iPhone senses a sudden stop, such as a red light or simply dropping your phone, it may think the user has gotten into a serious crash and dial for help.

Shayla Clark was shocked to learn of the feature when she upgraded her iPhone. "I came to an abrupt stop at a light and my purse, as it does in the passenger seat, fell on the floor and the box fell on the floor. I'm driving a little bit and I hear an alarm go off and it tells me I have ten seconds to turn off my phone before it calls the police."

Once Shayla pulled over, her phone had dialed 911 and a dispatcher was on the other end. "He got a call saying I was in a severe car accident and I basically had to convince him that I wasn't in an accident and as the phone was brand new, I didn't even have a phone number yet."

Sheriff Smith says Shayla would not have been in legal trouble if the police had come to check on her. But for now, she's keeping the Crash Detection feature turned off.

"But maybe if I go driving long distances or I'm somewhere I don't know where I am, I'll turn it on," said Clark.

"By no means are we complaining for responding to all of these false alarms; we're just trying to educate the public why it happens and it is time-consuming," stated Sheriff Smith.

To turn off Crash Detection, tap on the Settings app and then Emergency SOS. Scroll down where it says Call After Severe Crash, tap it and then tap Turn Off. You can turn it back on at the same place.