Telematics data has played a crucial role in a speedy emergency response to a stricken van driver left semi-conscious following a crash.
The technology from Michelin Connected Fleet is used across the Severn Trent Services’ 177-strong field service van fleet and was put to the test by one of the company’s mobile technicians when travelling to a location in rural Kent for a job.
Under the Michelin Connected Fleet telematics package, each vehicle is fitted with an accelerometer to detect events such as harsh braking or to trigger the Incident Management function when a specified G-force limit is breached, such as in a crash.
In this case, an Incident Management alert was triggered when the van left the road and crashed, obscured, in a hedgerow with the driver trapped inside and unresponsive.
The vehicle was so well hidden in the hedgerow that discovery by passing traffic would have been unlikely.
But the Michelin Connected Fleet system automatically alerted the Severn Trent Services’ control room that there had been an incident, immediately providing a GPS and a digital map reference of the van’s location.
The control room’s subsequent calls to the driver established that there had been a crash and proved successful in rousing him from his semi-conscious state. This allowed for a quick assessment to be made, and an urgent request for emergency services assistance to be sent. The call handler remained on the line to keep the driver talking while help arrived.
Thanks to the timely intervention, the driver made a full recovery.
Lauren James, business support manager at Severn Trent Services, said: “I think this has served to re-educate some of the business about the use of telematics and tracking. Previously some viewed it as intrusive but the incident, no matter how rare, reassured our workers that we take their safety seriously and that should the worst happen, we’re able to help them.”
Alongside key safety benefits, the Michelin Connected Fleet system is also providing Severn Trent Services with regular driver feedback and coaching to improve on-road performance.
And it’s helped cut emissions and costs for the business, which used the supplied fleet management tools to analyse and reduce engine idling by 30% across its van fleet between December 2023 and December 2024.
As part of its sustainability goals, the service provider is also using Michelin Connected Fleet’s Electric Vehicle transition tool to identify where zero tailpipe emission vehicles would make suitable replacements for ICE-powered units.
