QandAs: Autos

What is a SigAlert?

Answer:
A SigAlert, also written “Sigalert” and

“SIG Alert,” is a term used by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to describe traffic conditions that require closure of at least one lane for a minimum of 30 minutes. The term began as “Sigmon Traffic Alerts,” but was quickly shortened to “SigAlert.” The name comes from Loyd Sigmon, the inventor of the alert. The CHP issues SigAlerts in many ways, including electronic signs and announcements along the freeway, and announcements on radio and television.

California is notorious for massive amounts of traffic, and has been for decades. In 1955, Sigmon created the alert system in order to free up police officers in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), who were asked to give traffic information to various media outlets. Sigmon, who served in World War II in the U.S. Signal Corps, invented a specific type of radio receiver and recording system, so that police officers could record traffic announcements during the course of their day. Media outlets then received and broadcast this information to the general public.

The CHP took over jurisdiction for traffic on California freeways in 1969, and also took over the SigAlert system. In 1993, the term “SigAlert” was added to the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary.


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