From the wtf file: Get road conditions via Twitter while you drive

[liberal N proud]

Get Ohio winter road condition updates via Twitter

The Ohio Department of Transportation will offer instant information on winter conditions along interstates and highways in Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo using the popular Web site, Twitter.


There were 44,725 crashes on Ohio’s roads last winter - with nearly one out of every three crashes involving drivers between the ages of 16-25.


“Safety is always our top priority,” said ODOT Director Jolene M. Molitoris, “… social networking websites such as Twitter are increasingly becoming a very useful tool in sharing information, especially among our younger populations.”
This pilot project will initially target the state’s six largest metropolitan areas, by sending out “tweets” - the short, bite-sized updates sent via Twitter.com - when icy or snowy conditions impact travel on interstates and major highways or when a winter-related accident causes major traffic delays.
Designed to give motorists updated information before they leave their home or office, these “tweets” will help drivers better prepare for the conditions they may face in their travels.
ODOT’s Twitter efforts build upon the success of the department’s premier traffic website www.BuckeyeTraffic.org.

http://www.toledoonthemove.com/news/story.aspx?id=391523


:wtf:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. "before they leave home"

:shrug:

[liberal N proud]

3. Keep is strictly on a web site

Make it more difficult to get from the cell phone.

You know the idiots will be tweeting down the highway.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. You know, some people drive with passengers.

[liberal N proud]

6. Right

If you want to believe that is the only time it will get used.


:rofl:

[hootinholler]

2. I can see it...

I heard this on NPR this morning and also had a WTF moment.

Then I started imagining what the tweets would be like: Send help was tweeting about ice on I70 and well I'm tweeting from the ditch now.

-Hoot

[T Wolf]

5. On the same level of possible absurdity as braille drive-up ATMs and drive-through

beer distributors.

And once, many years ago when I worked for the solar/conservation field, there was a solar-powered SUNLAMP project at a mid-western university (presumably to allow the students to tan during the cold, winter months).