A tragic incident has come to light where a 19-year-old driver, George Dillon, lost his life after his iPhone’s ‘Crash Detection’ feature called 999 following a car crash, but the call went unanswered. George had collided with a tree, prompting his Apple device to automatically dial emergency services, indicating that he had been in a serious accident and was unresponsive. When police tried to return the call, it went straight to voicemail, and their attempts to identify the caller were unsuccessful. As a result, the call was logged as having no specific request made, and since nothing distinct could be heard in the background, the police did not initially respond to the scene.
Hampshire’s assistant coroner, Henry Charles, has highlighted the need for better ‘understanding, training, and procedures’ to assist officers in dealing with automated calls that hint at a potential risk to life. The feature that allowed iPhones to automatically call emergency services in the event of a severe car crash was introduced by Apple in 2022. Mr. Charles addressed Hampshire Constabulary and the National Police Chiefs’ Council, stressing that false alarms from electronic devices like phones are prevalent, with often inaccurate locations provided. During the subsequent inquest, it was revealed that George Dillon lost control of his VW Golf, crashed into a tree near Southampton, and suffered fatal injuries.
In a report on the ‘Prevention of Future Deaths’, Mr. Charles expressed concerns about issues raised during the inquest that could lead to future fatalities. He raised alarms about the effectiveness of police responses to automated calls like the one made by George’s iPhone, emphasizing the need for more knowledge, training, and updated procedures in handling such situations swiftly and appropriately. The report underlined the challenges police face in distinguishing genuine emergencies from false alarms triggered by electronic devices, noting that the technology was new at the time of the tragic incident. Mr. Charles urged swift action to prevent similar tragedies in the future and called upon the concerned authorities to take necessary measures.
Following this tragic event, the force has been given an eight-week deadline to respond to these recommendations and act proactively to avoid such incidents in the future. The incident has sparked discussions about the need for better training and understanding within law enforcement agencies to ensure a prompt and effective response in situations where there is a potential risk to life. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of adapting to evolving technology and updating protocols to address emerging challenges in emergency responses.