Safety is a cornerstone of responsible fleet management for councils. Whether in waste collection, maintenance, parks care or other services, protecting both drivers and the public is essential.
For councils, the challenge lies not only in maintaining vehicle compliance and reducing incident rates, but also in building a safety-first culture that prevents collisions before they occur.
With growing pressure to do more with less, councils are increasingly turning to AI (artificial intelligence) – driven, analytics-based approaches to managing risk.
Modern fleet technologies can monitor driver behaviour, identify emerging safety concerns, and benchmark performance over time – improving safety while also unlocking operational efficiencies.
A proactive approach to fleet safety
A new fleet safety solution is now available that supports Australian councils in taking a more strategic, preventative approach to risk management.
Geotab’s Safety Centre is designed to help fleet managers shift from reactive to preventative safety measures. This AI-driven platform provides real-time visibility into vehicle and driver performance, alongside actionable insights that can reduce incident rates and create a culture of accountability.
Business Development Manager at Geotab, Alkan Ciftci, explains that the platform gives users the ability to benchmark their vehicles and drivers against similar fleets.
“It generates a Predictive Collision Risk – or PCR – score based on driving patterns, allowing fleet managers to identify where risks are emerging and provide targeted coaching before incidents occur,” Ciftci said.
Making advanced safety simple
Local governments benefit from the platform’s simplicity and ease of use.
“It’s designed with usability in mind – even for organisations without a dedicated data team,” Ciftci said.
“From the moment a council user logs into the system, they’re greeted with a clear safety dashboard that highlights priority risks, trends, and benchmarks.”
The platform analyses a detailed set of driving behaviours – such as acceleration, harsh braking, cornering, and speed – and compares them to industry benchmarks.
It then provides councils with a clear view of how their fleet’s safety profile is changing over time.
“Users can review their safety scores month by month, all the way back to when the system was first installed,” Ciftci said.
Benchmarking that reflects real-world operations
What sets this tool apart is its ability to benchmark vehicle and driver performance across a global dataset of nearly five million connected vehicles.
“This allows councils to compare their operations to similar fleet types under similar conditions,” Ciftci said.
“The benchmarking is not generic – it reflects the specific context of the vehicle’s use.”
This comparison enables targeted intervention. Fleet managers can identify which areas require training, understand the types of risks their drivers face, and use real-world evidence to justify investment in safety initiatives.
Delivering measurable results
While safety is always a key focus, the return on investment is also an important consideration for councils.
“We’ve seen local government fleets experience measurable improvements – not just in reducing collision risks, but in operational costs as well,” Ciftci said.
By shifting from a reactive to a proactive model of fleet safety, councils are reducing insurance claims, minimising vehicle downtime, and fostering safer communities.
Raising the bar for fleet safety
Local governments can use AI-driven safety platforms to enhance driver wellbeing, improve service delivery, and demonstrate strong governance.
With advanced analytics, easy-to-use dashboards, and predictive insights, these tools are helping councils set a new standard in risk management – one that benefits drivers, ratepayers, and communities alike.
To learn more, visit geotab.com
