The iPhone and Apple Watch will add a new accident detection feature

Apple is set to add a new "crash detection" feature to the iPhone and Apple Watch as early as next year, according to a new Wall Street Journal report. The report explains that the feature will automatically call emergency services when a car accident is detected using an iPhone or Apple Watch, and that Apple devices have already captured more than 10 million suspected vehicle collisions.

While the feature is currently planned for 2022, presumably as part of iOS 16 and watchOS 9, the report warns that "the timing of the new feature may change, or Apple may decide not to release it."

The feature will be similar to Apple Watch's existing fall detection feature. It was first added to the Apple Watch Series 4, and while it's disabled by default if you're under 65, anyone can turn it on in the Watch app on their iPhone.

The feature works by intelligently detecting a sudden fall, automatically calling emergency services if the person doesn't turn off the alert within one minute of the fall. If the medical card on the iPhone is filled out correctly, the specified "emergency contacts" in it will receive a text message and map link indicating the location of the watch at the time of the fall.

Source: wsj

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