Only Gulf Coast News has body camera video of the moment an alleged drunk driver slammed into a condo building, and police say it was the driver’s Apple Watch that made the 911 call.
Cape Coral police say AW, 28, was driving drunk when he hit a sign, fire hydrant, parked car, and ultimately the condo building.
Police say it was W’s Apple Watch that alerted 911. Using its crash detection feature, the device notified authorities with an automated message:
“The owner of this Apple Watch was in a severe car crash and is not responding to their watch. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.”
The feature detects rapid deceleration, indicating a potential crash, and immediately sends help. It’s now available on newer Apple Watches and iPhones.
LG with Cape Coral Police Department praised the technology. “When seconds count, getting that crash alert right away and having our officers show up on scene as quickly as possible is a huge benefit.”
Still, the technology isn’t perfect. It can trigger false alarms, for example, if a phone is dropped from a moving vehicle. But Traffic Homicide Investigator George Schwigk believes the pros outweigh the cons.
“If it’s going to save a life, it’s probably better to have those false activations than to not have that technology at all,” Schwigk said.
Schwigk noted that in Cape, where vehicles have ended up in canals unnoticed, this kind of alert could make the difference between life and death.
“If that type of technology could detect a crash in that situation, that could prevent someone from drowning,” Schwigk said.
Crash alerts may also aid investigations into hit-and-run incidents. Greenberg says getting to the scene faster could stop fleeing drivers before they get away.
“In a hit-and-run crash, if we get one of these alerts and the suspect is trying to flee, our officers may get there before they have a chance to leave,” Greenberg said.
While the crash detection feature has been hailed as a game-changer, tech expert EL warns users to stay informed.
“Your phone is always listening. This is currently sending more data up to Apple’s cloud than most people realize,” L said.
L stresses that while the tech is helpful, it’s crucial that consumers understand how much data is being collected in the background.
“You should always proceed with caution when it comes to technology,” L said.
One thing is for certain: if Siri can help save lives, our first responders are listening.
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Source: gulfocoastnewsnow
