Kashmir HillFeb 3, 2023
Apple’s new algorithm to detect whether someone has been in a car accident is wreaking havoc for 911 call centers this ski season. Yet another example of a good idea from a technology company in theory that has problems in practice. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/03/health/apple-watch-911-emergency-call.html
Why Apple Watches Keep Calling 911

Dispatchers for 911 are being inundated with false, automated distress calls from Apple devices owned by skiers who are very much alive.

Show threadBritish Tech GuruFeb 3, 2023
@kashhill yes. Add to that, the very dangerous traction control software nonsense they put in cars. That has almost caused me to crash on several occasions and it defaults to on every time I start the engine.
Show threadGord
@britishtechguru Can you elaborate? Genuinely interested as I can't think of a single incident in 30 years of driving where traction control has even inconvenienced me.
Feb 3, 2023 at 4:05pmWeb
Show threadBritish Tech GuruFeb 3, 2023
@drgrowmac I've almost had accidents twice because of traction control. The first was when I couldn't just let the back end glide over water it decided to stop the wheels spinning so I almost over corrected and almost sent myself into a ditch. The second was in snow when I had some wheelspin and it decided to lock all the driving Wheels which meant that I then slipped backwards towards the age of a hill. I had to turn traction control off swiftly in order to regain control. The damn thing defaults to on and I just consider it to be the most extremely dangerous thing anybody could ever put on a vehicle and I wish I could disable it permanently.
Show threadGordFeb 3, 2023

@britishtechguru I am 90% sure you're talking about stability control, not traction control? Traction control affects wheelspin when accelerating.

I'm pretty sure your first example is simply you aquaplaning as you were going too fast for the conditions. That's on you.

Traction control and ABS can be a problem in snow, certainly true, but it's incredibly easy to turn off in that situation, and the rest of the time it's a huge safety plus 99.9% of the time.

Show threadBritish Tech GuruFeb 3, 2023

@drgrowmac when you intend to use aquaplaning to control your vehicle, suddenly having traction control blocking it is a dangerous thing.

My traction control defaults to on every time I start the blasted engine. It needs to be removed totally. ABS I can take or leave -:I can drive with or without that.

My vehicle has traction control not stability control.

Show threadGordFeb 3, 2023

@britishtechguru You're describing driving in an intentionally dangerous manner. Aquaplaning intentionally is absolutely ludicrous. Also, traction control wouldn't cause what you describe, that's likely just aquaplaning and then one wheel hitting grip again first causing the car to yaw.

Anyway, much like an acquaintance who hates the forward facing radar that stops him skim-overtaking cars with a 50 mph speed differential, I'm delighted that you're being kept in check. Safer for the rest of us.

Show threadBritish Tech GuruFeb 3, 2023

@drgrowmac Aquaplaning might be strange for you but for the driving I had to do at the time, it was an essential skill. Don't assume everybody drives a car on paved roads from the house to the office like a vicar.

I drive an SUV. I drive dirt roads daily. I drive icy roads, icy and wet dirt tracks, cross country and there's always at least one pistol in my vehicle.

We are not the same even though we are both from Britain.

Show threadGordFeb 3, 2023

@britishtechguru Very true. Driving on a public, paved road is very different to offroad. Although I thought one of the basics of off-road driving was to turn all the aids off? On-road I stand by the fact that the benefits hugely outweigh the downsides 99% of the time for 99.9% of drivers.

Have a good weekend either way!

Show threadBritish Tech GuruFeb 4, 2023

@drgrowmac I must be the .1% of drivers then. BTW I am taking a position as a driving instructor though not for cars as a sideline for the same government organisation for which I work here in the USA.

Happy weekend to you too :)

This weekend I shall be working on my electronics projects again.