COLUMBUS (AP) — Travelers in six Ohio cities can now use Twitter feeds to get updates on winter-related traffic problems.

State transportation officials announced the pilot project Thursday. Officials will post Twitter updates whenever icy or snowy conditions impact travel on major highways in Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.

Ohio joins a growing number of states that are using Twitter to post traffic information. But officials strongly discourage motorists from attempting to read the messages while driving.

Transportation Director Jolene Molitoris said there were 44,700 crashes on Ohio's roads last winter.

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On the Net: www.BuckeyeTraffic.org/twitter.