The iPhone already comes with some excellent safety, but Apple could still do more to protect owners. Here are some safety features that I’d love to see added to iOS in future updates.
1
Automatic Call Recording to Emergency Services
Currently, to call emergency services, you can hold down the power and either volume button for over ten seconds. You can also slide the “SOS” button across the “Emergency Call” slider for the same result at a faster pace.
However, it may be beneficial to have an option to automatically record emergency calls when they are made. This would allow your iPhone to automatically enable call recording when the outgoing call is with emergency services, and you could return to the call’s transcript if needed.
In iOS 18, you can already record active phone calls, but you must manually enable it. That may not be an essential task in emergencies, so having the option to turn it on automatically could be beneficial. Recording phone calls automatically may be convenient in an emergency, but it could play a greater role.
For example, if the call is cut off, law enforcement or medical personnel could access the recording to determine what happened and respond accordingly. This is particularly useful in cases of kidnappings, domestic violence, or medical emergencies where the caller may become unresponsive.
No matter the reason, an emergency is an emergency, so the ability to automatically record a copy of the call could be the difference between safety and further danger to the person calling.
2
Dash Camera Support
Driving is a very popular way to get around nowadays, especially in areas where walking is not feasible. However, while driving is practical, it is not always the safest, so people purchase and install dash cameras in their vehicles.
However, dash cameras can be expensive, require additional wires to be installed on the dash, must be recharged, and require the memory card to be swapped when it is full.
Apple could potentially resolve this issue by incorporating a dash camera mode into the iPhone. This would enable a dash camera mode that automatically alerts users when connected to CarPlay.
This feature could be partnered with a special mount that automatically has your iPhone start recording when attached, and the vehicle is in motion. This detection and animation could be similar to how your iPhone reacts when a MagSafe charger is connected.
Accessories for the dash camera setup could be sold the same way mounts are sold for the Continuity Camera feature between an iPhone and a Mac. The holder would be placed on your dash and then attached to your iPhone via MagSafe. The user would have the option to store recorded videos within their iPhone’s on-device storage or in iCloud.
Uploading the videos to iCloud could work the same way as video recording is handled with HomeKit Secure Video. Any footage recorded would stay in a designated iCloud folder for ten days and then be deleted, and none of the videos would count against your iCloud storage limit.
For safety, your iPhone’s screen will remain off while recording, and controls will only be accessible from a designated CarPlay app when the car is not in motion. Furthermore, you could also call emergency services from the CarPlay app if needed.
The iPhones already have very detailed cameras, so with the appropriate safety features and accessories, it could be an excellent dash camera setup for many drivers.
3
Safety Alerts When in High-Crime Areas
Apple has already incorporated crash detection into the iPhone, and the same feature, plus fall detection, is available on the Apple Watch. However, Apple could include more advanced safety features in both devices, primarily based on your current location.
One safety feature that could be beneficial is having Apple Maps or Find My alert you or your emergency contacts when you enter or are in a high-crime area. This would be similar to how the Weather app alerts you when the air quality in your current location is bad.
These notifications could also be shown within turn-by-turn directions. Additionally, users could avoid driving through high-crime locations, similar to how Apple Maps allows drivers to avoid tolls or highways.
Individuals who are your emergency contacts or have previously been granted access to this information can be notified of your safety through scheduled alerts or random safety check-ins. These would appear as standard notifications, and you can answer them directly from the notification itself.
However, your emergency contact will be notified if you do not respond within 15 minutes. This is similar to how the person you sent a Check In to on iMessage is alerted when you don’t arrive at your destination within the estimated time.
If you don’t respond to the check-in, your current location, device battery percentage, and whether the device was manually shut off will also be sent to your enabled contacts. This is similar to what a contact would receive if you don’t respond to a Check In notification from Messages.
Essentially, this feature could be handy in emergencies when you lose access to your iPhone. It would allow your emergency contacts to know what’s happening and respond accordingly and promptly.
4
Easily Trigger Panic Mode
Apple already allows you to call emergency services quickly, but when you do, your iPhone usually makes a loud noise, which may not be ideal for all emergencies. Furthermore, in dangerous situations where sound could be catastrophic, there needs to be a more effortless and quieter way to contact emergency services.
A panic-mode feature could be helpful during emergencies when you cannot speak or blatantly call for help. It could be toggled through a specific gesture, button press, or saying a particular phrase.
Triggering panic mode could secretly send your location and a pre-crafted or customized message to emergency services and your emergency contact. It could also discreetly turn on video and audio recording.
Through a specific gesture, the panic mode could be toggled when typing in a particular decoy passcode if someone forces you to unlock your iPhone. Typing it in would still unlock your device, but send your location and a message stating someone is forcing you to unlock your phone to emergency services and your emergency contact.
Customizable button-pressing patterns to enable panic mode would be a helpful addition, similar to how you can repeatedly press the power button five times to call emergency services. However, this should not only apply to the power button; if you have the Action Button on your iPhone, you should also be able to set it to trigger panic mode.
Additionally, it would be helpful to say a preset phrase to trigger panic in emergencies when you cannot access your phone. This would be similar to saying “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to activate the smart assistant.
Saying the preset phrase would send all the appropriate information to emergency services and your emergency contact, but it would also send a message stating that you cannot speak. This would deter emergency services or your emergency contact from calling you, preventing them from making the situation more dangerous.
The hope is that you won’t have to use panic mode, but it would be great to have the option to do so when needed. It can be a savior for many people in a troubling situation.
Through multiple software updates, Apple has implemented numerous safety features to ensure your well-being. However, more progress must be made to address further dangerous and life-threatening situations.
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By incorporating these safety features, Apple could improve its ability to assist individuals and be the reason someone comes out seriously unharmed. These events can occur unexpectedly, and if they unfortunately do, having these features prepared can assist you in staying safe and unharmed when you need them the most.
