Safety news

When the rubber hits the road, Essential Energy Fleet Manager Michael Mills is driving an award-winning system keeping our people safe when driving.

Now, he’s crossing borders to showcase the In-Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS) to the Australasian Fleet Management Association in South Australia on 22 February. He’ll then travel to Sydney to speak at The Grand Pittwater Function Centre at North Ryde on 7 March.

The IVMS system is setting the standard for vehicle safety by providing a simple, effective solution to lower driving risk.

When a member of public failed to give way and collided with an Essential Energy vehicle, the control room was able to contact police who attended and used our data for investigation. Other instances have involved IVMS data being used to trace the movements of stolen Essential Energy vehicles which led to their return and conviction of the thieves.

The IVMS has now been implemented in all Essential Energy’s road assets. As of January 2024, more than 102 million kilometres have been travelled since implementation, while vehicles average 32.5 million kilometres annually.

Last year, the system won the Australasian Fleet Management Association Fleet Safety Award.

Michael says the system has been a game changer to improve driver behaviour, fatigue management, and strategic decision-making.

“The IVMS is a key element of Essential Energy’s organisation-wide technology transformation, focusing on improving driver behaviour, fatigue management, and decision-making for lifecycle management,” Michael says.

“Every Essential Energy employee is committed to road safety, recognising and mitigating the risk of driving is crucial for the safety of themselves, their loved ones and the people in the communities where we work and live.”