Informational article

How to Use Sigalert for Real-Time Southern California Traffic Alerts

Sigalert is a free, Southern California-focused traffic platform that delivers real-time alerts for highway congestion, accidents, road closures, and construction directly to commuters via its website, mobile app, and optional email or text notifications. To use it, access the official Sigalert website or download the iOS or Android mobile app, select your regular commute routes to enable custom alerts, and monitor the live traffic map for up-to-date incident details along major SoCal freeways including the I-5, I-405, I-10, and I-101. ## Setting Up Custom Alerts for Your Commute To receive personalized notifications, create a free Sigalert account by entering your email address and setting a password on the website or in the mobile app. Once logged in, navigate to the "My Routes" section to input your regular commute start and end points, including specific freeway segments, HOV lanes, or surface street connections you use frequently. You can adjust alert preferences to notify you only for incidents that will add 10 minutes or more to your travel time, or select to receive alerts for all accidents, construction, and road closures along your route. Sigalert also lets you save multiple routes for work, school, or weekend trips, so you can toggle between alert sets as needed. ## Accessing Real-Time Traffic Maps and Incident Details The core Sigalert tool is its interactive live traffic map, which color-codes freeway segments by speed: green for free-flowing traffic (45+ mph), yellow for moderate congestion (25-44 mph), and red for heavy stop-and-go traffic (under 25 mph). Click on any colored segment to pull up specific incident details, including accident location, number of vehicles involved, estimated clearance time, and lane closures. The map also marks construction zones, updated regularly by Caltrans and local transportation agencies, and HOV lane restrictions that may impact your travel time. For commuters who prefer not to create an account, the public map is accessible without login, though you will not receive custom push or email alerts for your routes. ## Using Notification Features for Proactive Travel Once your routes are saved, you can choose your preferred alert delivery method: push notifications via the mobile app, email, or SMS text messages. Alerts are sent 15 to 30 minutes before your typical commute departure time, based on the schedule you set in your account settings, so you can adjust your departure time or choose an alternate route before leaving home. Sigalert also sends real-time updates if an incident occurs unexpectedly on your saved route while you are already traveling, with revised travel time estimates to help you decide whether to exit and take a side street or wait out congestion. If you receive an alert for a major accident or closure, you can use the map to view alternate route options that avoid the impacted segment, with estimated travel times for each alternative.