While on Roller Coasters, the iPhone 14 repeatedly dials 911

The new Crash Detection technology for the iPhone 14 reportedly also recognizes thrill rides.

The new Crash Detection feature on the iPhone 14 dials 911 when it senses you've been in a car accident, which is a surprising side effect considering it's intended to warn authorities. The Wall Street Journal said that the function has resulted in law enforcement being dispatched to amusement parks multiple times after mistaking the twists, turns, and hard braking of a thrill ride for a genuine emergency.

Last month, Apple released Crash Detection for its new iPhone 14, Watch Series 8, SE, and Ultra. This feature gives the devices a gyroscopic sensor and a high-g accelerometer that are trained to detect the impact of simulated car accidents. Your iPhone will display an alert and contact emergency personnel if the sensors determine that you've been in an accident and you don't dismiss it within 20 seconds.

When it dials police enforcement, an audio message that informs them that you've been in an accident and gives them your location will be played. (If you don't have your iPhone with you, or it isn't linked to Wi-Fi or a mobile network, your Apple Watch with Crash Detection won't be able to alert authorities.)

The Apple gadgets of a few users did exactly that, but at the wrong time. WSJ reporter Joanna Stern gives an example of a 911 call made when the owner of an iPhone 14 was fastened to a rollercoaster at Cincinnati's Kings Island amusement park in a tweet. Muffled screams from the rollercoaster may be heard in the background when the automated message is being played.

In a demolition derby-style experiment last month, Stern put Apple's Crash Detection feature to the test and discovered that it isn't fully trustworthy. Although Crash Detection has assisted in locating and informing authorities about a deadly collision in Nebraska, the feature undoubtedly has shortcomings.

Since the debut of the iPhone 14, six emergency calls have been generated by park rides in Warren County, where Kings Island is located, according to Stern. She also mentions that other visitors to amusement parks across the nation have reported having similar problems.

Last month, Apple released Crash Detection for its new iPhone 14, Watch Series 8, SE, and Ultra. This feature gives the devices a gyroscopic sensor and a high-g accelerometer that are trained to detect the impact of simulated auto accidents. Your iPhone will display an alert and contact emergency personnel if the sensors determine that you've been in an accident and you don't dismiss it within 20 seconds.