Apple is working on a new safety feature that will detect when iPhone users are in a car crash, according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
According to the outlet, the new feature will be called “crash detection” and will be available on iPhone and Apple Watches sometime next year. It is said to use data from sensors built into the devices, like the accelerometer, to detect inconsistencies.
The Journal added that Apple has been collecting data shared anonymously from its iPhone and Watch users over the past year to build out this service. The company has also been cross-referencing 911 call data to improve the accuracy of the feature.
It’s unclear if or when this feature will release, and Apple would be following in the footsteps of Google, which has already introduced car crash detection in its newer Pixel smartphones.
Apple recently rolled out a number of new health and safety features in its iOS 15 update, including the addition of Walking Steadiness that can predict a person’s risk of falling. The Apple Watch can also detect if a user takes a hard fall, and can help connect a person with emergency services.
In other news, read our latest review on the Apple AirPods (3rd Generation).
