Smartphone accident detection falsely triggered by dropped device in Germany
A smartphone's automated crash detection feature falsely triggered an emergency response in Germany after the device fell from a car roof. Police, firefighters and rescue services were dispatched to the location but found only the smartphone and a bag, causing a diversion of emergency resources.
What happened
A 52-year-old man left his smartphone on the roof of his car in Dahme, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany on Sunday afternoon. When the vehicle drove away, the smartphone fell in a bag onto the street.
The device's crash detection feature interpreted the impact as a severe traffic accident and automatically triggered an emergency call. Rescue services, firefighters and police were dispatched to the scene.
Reported impact
Emergency responders found only the bag and the smartphone at the location; there was no actual vehicle accident. The false alarm diverted emergency resources that could have been needed elsewhere.
Index analysis
Smartphone crash detection features use accelerometer and other sensors to detect severe impacts. These systems are designed to call emergency services if the user does not dismiss the alert within a short time despite audible and haptic warnings.
The system misidentified a smartphone's impact with the ground as a car crash severe enough to warrant an automatic emergency call.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.