Google introduced the ‘Car Crash Detection’ feature for Pixel phones back in 2014, designed to identify car accidents. Initially exclusive to the United States, this functionality has now expanded to include several additional countries, such as India, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, and Switzerland. Mishaal Rahman noticed this update on Google’s support page. With these recent inclusions, the car crash detection feature is now accessible in 20 countries across the globe.
This feature operates by automatically reaching out to emergency services and sharing the user’s location upon detecting a potential car accident. Additionally, individuals at the accident scene can access the phone’s lock screen message and emergency information if they pick up the device.
To set up this feature, users need to navigate to the Personal Safety app on their device, locate “Car crash detection” under Features, and proceed with the setup. It involves granting permissions for location sharing, microphone access, and physical activity, along with saving emergency information in the app.
Utilizing the phone’s location, motion sensors, and nearby sounds, the feature aims to identify a potential car crash. It requires permissions for location, physical activity, and microphone usage, which users need to authorize while configuring the feature.
However, it’s important to note that the feature may not be foolproof. It could mistakenly identify high-impact activities as a crash, leading to false alerts to emergency services. Connectivity issues or ongoing calls might also hinder the feature’s ability to reach emergency services. Nonetheless, despite its imperfections, this feature remains incredibly beneficial and potentially life-saving.
