From telephone calls to social media, the West Virginia Department of Transportation’s new 511 system communicates road conditions with the public in numerous ways.

The system’s website, wv511.org, allows people to monitor crashes and look for construction updates. It is the same website that state officials refer the media to for road conditions, especially for heavy snowfalls.

People can also call 511 for information.

In addition, the department has incorporated Twitter accounts for each interstate, so people who want to get information for Interstate 70 in Ohio County, for example, would follow @wvinterstate70 on Twitter.

People can download an app to their smartphones. Since drivers can’t use hand-held devices on West Virginia roads, the app will “talk” to drivers to provide road information.

Carrie Bly, a spokeswoman for the DOT, said the system – which started last week – can meet individuals’ preferences on how they want to receive information.

"It’s really personalized now. You can just follow I-70 and see what’s going on there. So we think that’s pretty neat in letting the public customize what info they want and need,” Bly said.

The whole idea of West Virginia’s 511 is to “Know Before You Go” and simply keeping motorists safe and aware of their surroundings before they head out the door.