🆘 Text 911: In an emergency situation where you can’t talk on the phone, start a new text, type “911” in the recipient field, add your exact location (no pics or emojis) and press Send. A dispatcher will respond via text with instructions. If this feature is unavailable in your area, you’ll receive a reply text alerting you.
Recall Alert: Nearly 250K SUVs with faulty wiring could engage brakes unexpectedly
Your vehicle’s ability to stop quickly is a crucial element in keeping you safe, so your brakes must be in perfect working order. But when your vehicle stops for no reason, it could cause an accident. Tap or click here for a Google app that detects car crashes and dials 911.
Unfortunately, 250,000 Volkswagen sports utility vehicles (SUVs) have the potential for their brakes to engage unexpectedly. Impacted models are now subject to a recall, and you must take action.
Read on to find out what is causing the problem and what you should do about it.
Here’s the backstory
It is terrifying when you drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic and your SUV suddenly starts to behave strangely. The windows can roll down automatically, the dashboard lights flicker on and off and alarm bells screech. Like a scene from a horror film, it would be easy to think that your vehicle is possessed.
But don’t be too frightened. If you drive a Volkswagen Altlas and it’s acting up, most likely it’s due to faulty wiring. The German manufacturer recently issued a nationwide recall for the following models:
- Atlas SUV – Models ranging from 2019 through 2023
- Atlas Cross Sport – Models ranging from 2020 through 2023
Volkswagen owners have complained 47 times to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the affected models suddenly braking and displaying the signs described earlier.
In one such complaint, a VW Altas driver from Delaware noted to the NHTSA that “the car forced itself to brake without warning” and that it happened “on multiple occasions any time I slowed down or came to a stop.”
In the recall documentation, it details that corroded wires on either side of the front doors can cause electrical interruptions resulting in:
- The late deployment of side airbags
- Windows rolling down automatically
- Multiple warning lights coming on
- The parking brake to initiate unexpectedly
What you can do about it
Safety tip: How to use Siri to call 911
Technology’s accessibility and assistance features can come in handy. Sometimes it can even be life-saving, as a hiker in 2019 found out. After falling off a cliff, his Apple Watch detected the incident and promptly dialed 911.
A warning before you text 911
In some cases, it seems like the right option. And it is, but there’s a catch. In 1 minute, what you need to know.
Real-time help: Pennsylvania emergency call centers now let people share live video during 911 calls. With a platform called Prepared, callers get a link that starts a live feed and pinpoints their location on a map. AI even transcribes and translates calls made in foreign languages. Look for this in more towns and cities across the country.
Update your Android now to fix a bug that blocks calling 911
(Updated Jan. 11, 2022 – Android has released its January security patch and it fixes the bug addressed in this article that was published last month. Update your OS immediately to take advantage of the patch.)
Having a mobile phone always with you is great when you need constant contact with friends and family. Even if they are halfway across the country, it is incredibly easy to message or make a call. Tap or click here for an Android update that makes it easier to chat with iPhone users.
How to make sure you don't accidentally call 911
You would be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t dialed the wrong number by accident. That awkward moment when you realize you called someone by mistake can be mortifying. Tap or click here for the emergency app that gets first responders to loved ones quickly.
🤦♀️ Neither snow nor rain nor heat (but not fire!): An Amazon driver with hardly a brain opened a garage door, walked through the smoke, left a package inside the burning garage and didn’t bother calling 911. By the time a passerby called three-and-a-half hours later, it took fire departments from 10 surrounding towns to put out the flames. Watch the story here. Unbelievable.
🕹️ Told ya this would happen: I wish I was in the business of selling police drones. The Denver Police Department will soon deploy drones to respond to 911 calls. They’ll use them to map areas before their officers show up and send live video footage back to assess the situation. Watch for all departments to get a fleet of drones.
How to call 911 from a locked phone
Get ahold of a locked phone in an emergency? Here’s what to do, in 60 seconds.
Deepfake CEO scam, spot fake reviews & Marvel superhero workout app
Plus, misdial 911? Hold the phone – I’ll explain why it’s costly to hang up. Allie has ways to stake your claim in Facebook’s $725 million settlement, and don’t miss Matt’s ridiculous story about a naked Instagram cat. And there’s also a hilarious joke!
How to make calls with terrible cell reception
Whether you are a devoted Android user or iPhone enthusiast, you rely on your device to keep you connected throughout your day, regardless of your location. Unfortunately, if you are on the go, you may find yourself in an area with weak or no cell reception.
Built-in phone settings that could save your life
In these troubled times, when we’re dealing with a pandemic and protests compounded with the usual risks of accidents and crime, your smartphone can be your emergency notifier.
Sure, you know about AAA for your car. Tap or click here for a free app you can use to replace AAA.
Tech tip: How to set up Drop In for Amazon Echo
Amazon Echos come with tons of helpful features. You can switch lights on and off, play podcasts or even drop in on people in other rooms. Alexa’s Drop In feature lets you communicate through different Echos throughout your home or even in someone else’s home.
Oh, Alexa, I'm going to hurt.' Echo records woman's pleas for help before dying of coronavirus
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, causes several symptoms that can be distressing for patients. Many have reported being unable to take a full breath, along with burning fevers and tightness in the chest.
Have basic questions about COVID-19? Use these resources and DON'T call 911
People across the country are scared, and they’re calling to 911 — not for emergency help but with general questions. Emergency dispatchers and first responders around the country, already pressed for resources, are pleading with the public to stop.
Safety update: You can now call or text 911 right from this app
Uber may be a convenient way to get around, but a chief concern for many potential riders is safety. Once you step into your driver’s car, you’re at their mercy until the vehicle comes to a stop. This means you have little-to-no recourse during a crisis or emergency, and no way to get out of the car.