With Download Festival set to rock Donington Park from June 13–15, 2025, Leicestershire Police have issued a critical alert. They warn fans that smart watches with crash-detection might inadvertently dial 999 during mosh pit activity . This isn’t a drill—so prepare now to avoid false alarms.

Why It Matters at Download

First of all, crash-detection features in watches like Apple Watch and Google Pixel Watch are designed to sense sudden impacts. Consequently, when fans dive into mosh pits, those intense movements mimic car crashes. Therefore, the device may automatically call emergency services. Sadly, this has disrupted past events—most notably at the 2025 Download Festival .

A Surge in False Emergency Calls

During previous festivals, nearly 700 accidental 999 calls were triggered over a single weekend. That’s why handlers had to make multiple callback attempts. Meanwhile, genuine emergencies risked delay . In short, these false alerts can drain resources—and possibly endanger others.

What Fans Should Do

Police have urged festival goers to disable crash detection or switch devices to airplane mode before moshing. Moreover, if a hidden number calls back after a false alert, answer it. Quick clarification can prevent dispatching emergency responders to non-emergencies . It’s a simple step that makes a big difference.

Not Just a Download Dilemma

This issue isn’t unique to Donington. Similar alerts occurred at US festivals like Bonnaroo, where phones triggered unintended 911 calls while headbanging. As a result, organizers advised disabling those features during the events . Clearly, the problem is global—and preventable.

Tech Fixes on the Way

Even Apple has acknowledged the glitch. The company is working on software updates to reduce such false detections . Nevertheless, festival-goers shouldn’t wait. Proactive deactivation remains the most reliable solution until fixes arrive.