Drivers urged to make 'life-saving' mobile phone change amid weather warnings
Experts said the feature could help save lives
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Motorists are being urged to make changes to their mobile phones which could protect them as the days get shorter and the weather gets more hazardous.
Drivers have already dealt with severe weather conditions over the last few weeks with Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran battering the UK, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and Met Office warnings.
With conditions getting worse, experts are urging drivers to make key changes to their habits to protect themselves and other road users.
Despite this, some drivers may be putting themselves at risk by having a vital mobile phone feature disabled.
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Most Apple, Google and Samsung phones have a “Crash Detection” function which alerts emergency services if the car has been in a severe crash.
The feature will provide the emergency services with their location and get them help in the event that they are not able to use the phone themselves.
For Apple devices, an alarm will sound, and a message will appear if it believes they have been in an accident, with a 20-second prompt allowing drivers to dismiss the notification if the driver is safe.
Drivers with an Apple phone or smartwatch can also enable a medical ID, with emergency services being able to read the medical information they have provided once they reach the accident.
David Kottuan, operations manager at Scrap Car Comparison, called on drivers to make a “life-saving” phone update to protect them this winter.
He said: “As we approach winter, driving conditions can become a little tricky with black ice, fog and getting dark early adding extra challenges to otherwise straightforward journeys.
“While it might sound extreme, enabling crash detection could be the difference between a favourable or unfavourable outcome, and can enable you to get the help you need in the event of a collision.
“Even with this setting enabled, however, care should be taken when driving in wintery conditions.”
The Google technology works in a similar way to Apple, using the phone’s location, motion sensors and nearby sounds to decipher if a crash has taken place.
Drivers can activate the feature on their iPhones through the settings and tapping “Emergency SOS”, while Google users can navigate to the “Safety” app and the “Car crash detection” setting.
There are some events where the setting can be incorrectly triggered, such as if the person participates in extreme or action-based sports like skiing or snowboarding.
David Kottuan added: “The added darkness can make driving trickier, but add in ice, snow or rain and it can be even more perilous.
“Ensure you’re factoring in extra ‘thinking distance’ with your ‘stopping distance’ as icy or wet roads can result in skidding.
“It’s also important to remember to never adjust the settings on your phone whilst in the car.
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Drivers should go to the settings of their Apple, Google or Samsung phones to make the change
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“Ensure you set up the alert prior to getting into your vehicle and starting a journey in order to avoid getting distracted behind the wheel.”