By Debbie Cavanagh, UK Sales Manager at Safecote
In the UK, winter service planning has long been reliant on traditional methods for de-icing and snow clearance. But a new era is upon us. At Safecote, we’ve introduced an innovative approach developed by the Swedish company, BM System, that is poised to revolutionise how local authorities and central government organisations manage their winter service operations.
Since first learning about this technology in 2018, we’ve witnessed its remarkable evolution. The system operates as an advanced fleet and weather management tool, providing GPS tracking, navigation, and critically, route optimisation for gritting and other activities. This goes far beyond traditional telematics, allowing authorities to plan and execute services more efficiently and effectively.
Why It Matters
The real benefit of this technology lies in its ability to reduce the number of vehicles required, streamline staffing needs, and improve safety. In areas like South Lanarkshire and Carmarthenshire, we’ve worked with local authorities to reduce their gritting routes, yielding significant cost savings – one example being a reduction from 23 to 20 routes, saving £250,000 per year operationally.
Route Optimisation
The route optimisation module is a key benefit for local authorities, and we are not aware of any other digital systems available in the UK at present that can offer this in its advanced state. All parameters, including gritter capacity, location, and route timings, can be tailored to specific customer requirements. It is browser-based, making it ideal for authorities with restricted downloading policies. The licence based modular solution provides the flexibility to adopt as much or as little of the system as needed. Authorities can optimise gritting for both P1 and P2 routes and extend this to ploughing and cycle routes.
Automation and Safety
A standout feature is the automated salting option, addressing the pressing issue of driver availability. New or agency drivers can simply follow navigation prompts while the system handles salting, reducing training times and increasing operational safety. This allows authorities to maintain service levels despite staff shortages.
Future-Readiness: Selective and Dynamic Salting
The system also supports selective salting and dynamic salting based on real-time weather data, allowing authorities to treat only the sections of the network that require attention. This precision approach can reduce salt usage and operational costs while ensuring a rapid, targeted response to varying conditions.
More than Winter Services
This tool is not limited to winter services. Its design allows for optimisation of gully cleaning, waste collection, and other routine activities, making it an ideal long-term investment for authorities looking to future-proof their service offerings.
Why Now?
With increasing environmental pressures and rising operational costs, there’s never been a better time for local authorities to consider implementing this solution. The results speak for themselves – improved efficiency, enhanced safety, and significant cost savings.
If you’re interested in learning more about how this system can benefit your area, please get in touch with us at Safecote. Together, we can make winter safer, smarter, and more sustainable across the UK.
(Images – Safecote)