Three Lanes of Busy Interstate 80 Closed
Three lanes along a busy stretch of eastbound Interstate 80 in Solano County were closed for a period of time on Sunday, August 15, 2021, due to an injury accident. The Sig Alert that had been issued in relation to the incident was withdrawn, and all lanes were reopened about an hour and a half later.
The Traffic Incident that Closed the Highway
Just before 11:00 Sunday morning, a pickup truck that was towing a recreational trailer was involved in a traffic incident east of American Canyon Road in Vallejo, California. Both the truck and the RV overturned on the highway. The extent of the injuries suffered by the occupants of the truck is unknown.
The wreck necessitated that the Solano Office of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) close three lanes of busy Interstate 80 so the incident could be investigated and the scene cleared.
What is a Sig Alert?
The news reports on this Solano County accident indicate that a Sig Alert was issued, then later canceled. That may lead to the question: what is a Sig Alert?
The term refers to a notification system. It is variously referred to as a Sig Alert, a Sig-Alert, or a Sigalert, depending on which state agency is using the term. Essentially, a Sig Alert refers to the response following an incident that causes a significant traffic disruption. It gets its name from Loyd Sigmon, the inventor of a system of automated radio broadcasts that reported on traffic conditions. The Sigmon broadcasts were introduced in the 1950s.
The CHP defines a Sig Alert as an unplanned event that results in the closure of one or more traffic lanes for at least 30 minutes. The phrase is used to describe the notice of such a lane closure by the CHP. Sig Alerts are broadcast on television and radio stations and posted on the CHP website. Electronic message boards along California highways are also used to notify motorists of Sig Alerts.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) uses different criteria to define a Sig Alert. Under its system, a Sig Alert is issued for any traffic event that will close two or more highway lanes for at least two hours.
In 1993, the term was added to the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below explains the function and uses of the Sig Alert system.
Vallejo Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello – and thanks for reading our discussion of this recent Vallejo traffic incident and the Sig Alert system within California. I’m Ed Smith, a Vallejo personal injury attorney. Details on what caused this pickup truck and RV trailer to overturn are sparse. Accidents that cause vehicles to overturn can cause severe injuries to the vehicle occupants. Most automobile accidents are the result of motorist negligence. This could include driving at unsafe speeds, failure to yield, erratic lane changing, among many other types of reckless or careless driving behaviors. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car wreck that was caused by the negligent driving behavior of another motorist, you may be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your damages. Call our firm to speak with an experienced injury lawyer. We can set up a no-obligation consultation to review the details of your potential claim. Alternatively, we can provide free and friendly legal advice over the phone. Call us at (707) 564-1900. From other regions in Northern California, use our toll-free line: (800) 404-5400.
For more than 38 years, our law firm has assisted Vallejo residents with their personal injury matters. For more information about our services, please visit our settlements and verdicts page, as well as the following sites for our client reviews:
Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/road-closed-sign-sign-road-closed-2079685/
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