At least that’s what it sounds like on the radio. Can anyone in the L.A. area tell me what this comes from?
From the Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) website:
“Los Angeles police in the 1940s got in the habit of notifying radio reporter Lloyd Sigmon when there was a major automobile accident on city streets. These notifications, which were later expanded to include all local media, became known as “Sig-Alerts.” With the development of freeways as the major transportation system in the greater Los Angeles area, the term “Sig-Alert” evolved into any incident on the freeway that will tie up two or more lanes for two or more hours.”
The “Sigalert” originated by Loyd C. “Sig” Sigmon in 1955 on Gene Autry’s radio station, KMPC. Here’s the details on the “Sigalert”
Hm. I thought I’d posted this link http://www.kfwb.com/trafques.html a few months ago, but I couldn’t find it! Anyway, it explains Sig-Alerts and other terms used in So. Cal.