WCHS Eyewitness News Home Charleston Eyewitness Newsroom Charleston Storm Team Weather Sports News TV Program Schedule Community Mobile-Cellphone and PDA Get Connected SMS Text Facebook Twitter RSS News Feed Email List


511 TAKING OFF
Snowstorm Spotlights State's New 511 System

Reported by: Send eMail Leslie Rubin
Videographer: Troy Morgan
Web Producer: Leslie Rubin
Reported: Jan. 25, 2013 10:18 PM EST
Updated: Jan. 25, 2013 10:28 PM EST

EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO
C L I C K   T O   P L A Y
Charleston , Kanawha County , West Virginia

The roads were definitely not the place to be on Friday, but watchful eyes monitor conditions across the state to make sure drivers know before they go.

It's the state's new 511 system, and while it's been up and running for about a month, it's days like Friday's snowstorm that it really comes into play for every driver out on the roads.

"This is basically our transportation management system. We like to call it the nerve center of everything that's going on weather related with the DOT and DOH," explains spokesperson Carrie Bly, as she gives Eyewitness News a behind the scenes look.

There are dozens of cameras placed across the state to monitor the busiest interstates and highways.

"Here you're looking at Dunbar. Here is a really busy intersection at Montrose Drive," she points out.

They take what they see on the screens, the information they receive from 911 centers and callers on the roads and use the information for 511.

The system is easy and and free and available almost anywhere. You can visit the their webpage, use their mobile app, follow them on twitter, or just pick up the phone and dial 511.

"With the app you can actually set your radius. Say you wanted to know 50 miles of where you're driving, so set it before, you start the car, set it down in the passengers seat and it will actually talk to you as you're going and give you alerts of what's going on on the roads," explained Bly.

But perhaps the best advice, if you've got to go out, just take it slow. Officials say the majority of wrecks were from people just going too fast for the conditions.

"When you have slick roads like this, the speed limit is not what is posted. As a matter of fact, it's about half of what is posted, especially when it's as severe as this," says spokesperson Brent Walker.

**Follow 511 on Twitter - @WV511
Website- www.wv511.org
Dial 511
Download the Drive Safe mobile app**



MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
POWERBALL JACKPOT
Winning Powerball Ticket Sold In Florida, Estimated Prize $590.5 Million
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 19, 2013 10:43 AM EDT
Powerball officials were pretty confident there would ...
Full News Story and Video

SHOOTING INVESTIGATION
Man Shot On Charleston's West Side
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 19, 2013 10:14 AM EDT
Police are looking for the person who shot a man on ...
Full News Story

BELLE FIRE
Investigators Say Belle Fire Appears To Be Arson
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 18, 2013 10:17 PM EDT
A fire destroyed a trailer in Belle Friday night, and ...
Full News Story and Video



News Empty Glass Event To Benefit Diabetes Foundation
May. 18, 2013 11:46 PM EDT
News Vegas Icon Helps To Honor Local Armed Forces Members
May. 18, 2013 8:33 PM EDT
News Dunbar Events Get Families Back To The Park
May. 19, 2013 4:25 AM EDT
News Kanawha Grand Jury Returns Indictments
May. 18, 2013 6:34 PM EDT
News Police Investigating Robbery At Embassy Suites
May. 18, 2013 6:35 PM EDT
News South Charleston Officials Moving Forward With Bond Sale
May. 18, 2013 9:00 PM EDT
News Book Examines Legal Fights Surrounding Blankenship
May. 19, 2013 4:37 AM EDT
News Several Bear Sightings Reported In South Charleston
May. 18, 2013 8:59 PM EDT
News Boyd County Deputies Bust Nine Meth Labs, Eight In One Home
May. 18, 2013 6:35 PM EDT
News WV Agency Hands Out All Available Reunion Kits
May. 18, 2013 4:53 PM EDT
News New Coin Commemorates WV 150th Birthday
May. 18, 2013 8:59 PM EDT
News 3-D Printers An Emerging Industry
May. 18, 2013 4:11 PM EDT
News 20 Seniors Could Be In Trouble Over Wayne High Vandalism
May. 18, 2013 2:37 AM EDT
News Man Arrested After Allegedly Making Young Girls Pose Provocatively In Front Of Webcam
May. 17, 2013 11:33 PM EDT
News Five Injured In Wyoming County Accident
May. 17, 2013 10:56 PM EDT
News Former Smithers Fire Chief Indicted
May. 17, 2013 10:57 PM EDT
News Clay County Man Indicted On Meth Charges
May. 18, 2013 2:18 AM EDT
News Top-Selling Comedians Perform In Huntington
May. 17, 2013 10:52 PM EDT
News 2,000 Take Part In Relay For Life
May. 18, 2013 2:27 AM EDT
News Make-A-Wish Sends Girl To Disney World
May. 18, 2013 2:28 AM EDT
News Crews Respond To Altizer Fire
May. 17, 2013 10:57 PM EDT
News Parents of Toddler Arrested, Charged With Meth-Making
May. 18, 2013 2:30 AM EDT
News Sissonville Man Beats The Odds
May. 17, 2013 6:42 PM EDT
News Cabell Huntington Observes EMS Week
May. 18, 2013 2:32 AM EDT
News Putnam Man Arrested On Meth Charges
May. 17, 2013 8:11 PM EDT
News Couple Arrested On Child Neglect Charges
May. 17, 2013 8:07 PM EDT
News Kasich To Alert Families To Execution Mercy
May. 17, 2013 5:55 PM EDT
News IRS Targeting Scandal Focus Of Poll
May. 17, 2013 5:28 PM EDT
News Unemployment Rates Fall In WV, Ohio In April
May. 17, 2013 4:53 PM EDT
News Huntington VA Medical Center Debuts New Women's Clinic
May. 18, 2013 2:14 AM EDT


Advertise on WCHS-TV Online

West Virginia News
Limb kills Moundsville worker, death investigated

Authorities are investigating the death of a Moundsville city sanitation worker who was hit by a falling tree limb.
Full Story

Kentucky News
Lottery tickets sold in Ky. worth $1 million each

Two Powerball tickets sold in Kentucky barely missed out on an estimated $590.5 million grand prize, but they're worth $1 million each.
Full Story

Ohio News
Kenyans top finishers in Cleveland marathon

Kenyan Philemon Terer has won the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon in 2 hours, 17 minutes, 37 seconds.
Full Story

Fugitive Files
Wanted: May. 14, 2013 You Can Help!
Fugitive Fugitive Fugitive Seen them? Call 888-720-TIPS
Details about these Fugitives

Behind The Kitchen Door
May 16, 2013
Shoney's-Charleston, Hibachi, Blues BBQ makes the list. Find out who has violations and who gets the Clean Kitchen Award!
Story and Video

2013 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | CURRENT
2012 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC







Fire!Fire!

Fugitive Files Tuesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

West Virginia Wildlife Wednesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

Newscast Scripts

ABC News web site





How To Contact WCHS-TV8 | Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Terms and Conditions | DMCA Policy | Frequently Asked Questions

Home | Eyewitness News Newsroom | Storm Team Weather | Eyewitness Sports | Schedules

Send Mail Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.

Copyright ©2013, WCHS-TV8. Portions are
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.