A 16-year-old driver escaped a harrowing overnight crash when her iPhone automatically phoned 911, local broadcaster WFMJ reported. The teenager wasn’t named other than Lindsay Leskovac, blacked-out at the wheel and ended up with multiple fractures and neck injury, and was only rescued after the call placed using the phone.
How the Crash Detection alert found first responders
Fire and rescue personnel informed the family that the 911 center said the emergency call came from the teenager’s phone. The mother, who had been unaware of the feature, followed the chain of events back to Apple’s Crash Detection system and attributed it for summoning help when the driver was unconscious.
What Crash Detection actually does
Crash Detection, which debuted on iPhone 14 lineup Apple Watch models, uses data from the high-g accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer and microphone, along with on-device algorithms, to detect a hard fall. If it senses a qualifying crash, the device can sound an alarm, flash an emergency screen and, if it gets no response, call emergency services and transmit location data.
Why this matters for teen drivers
Teen drivers are, and continue to be, a high-risk demographic: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that drivers 16 to 19 years old are at greater risk of crashing compared with older drivers. Tired, inexperienced driving leads to late night single-vehicle crashes such as the one WFMJ outlined, and automated alerts can be the difference between a delayed rescue and life-saving minutes.
Make sure Crash Detection and Emergency SOS are enabled
There’s a simple trick to find out if the feature is enabled, by going into Settings, tapping Emergency SOS and making sure Call After Severe Car Crash is switched on. Apple suggests creating emergency contacts in the Health app so that first responders and the people you love get important information when something bad happens.
Limitations and real-world context
Crash Detection isn’t foolproof: False positives are a thing, and not every crash will set off an alert. Emergency dispatch centers (and even some communities that don’t have this problem of spotty cell coverage) have protocols in place when it comes to automated calls. Still, lifesaving stories like this one shared by WFMJ serve as a reminder of the real-world utility of automated safety systems.
What safety experts recommend beyond tech
Technology is in addition to, not instead of, safe driving practices. Organizations such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) still make graduated licensing, nighttime restrictions for novice drivers, and addressing drowsy driving the cornerstone of prevention.
A reminder to families and drivers
With a single check of settings, families can supplement their safety with a physical upgrade. For parents of new drivers, verifying that Crash Detection and Emergency SOS settings are activated, helping teens understand how the features work and enforcing responsible night-driving rules are practical measures that could prevent a tragedy, or bring help when alarms are unable to rouse a sleeping driver.