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Connecticut driving lesson · Driving Behaviors & Space Cushion

Intersections and railroad crossings

A 3-minute lesson from the Connecticut course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Driving Behaviors & Space Cushion
Checkpoint questions
4
Source pages
17

Intersections are where traffic merges or crosses, so they're where many crashes happen. Never trust a signal or sign to keep others out of your path — look left, right and across before you go, and at railroad tracks never assume no train is coming.

Intersection

Any place where traffic merges or crosses: cross streets, side streets, driveways, and shopping center or parking lot entrances.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Before and while crossing an intersection:

  • Look left and right for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians before you enter
  • When stopped, look left and right again just before you start moving
  • Look across to be sure the path is clear all the way through and you won't block it
  • Look left and right even if cross traffic has a red light or stop sign — especially right after a green
Handbook p. 17 ↗

Know the rule

Turning left: oncoming traffic, including bicycles, always has the right-of-way. Wait for a safe opening, check the street you're turning onto, and look once more at oncoming traffic before you turn.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Know the rule

Turning right: make sure no traffic is coming from your left and no oncoming traffic is turning into your path, check for pedestrians, and don't turn immediately after passing a bicycle. You may turn right on red after stopping unless a sign prohibits it.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Know the rule

At an intersection with an inoperative stop light, state law requires you to stop as though it were controlled by a stop sign.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Know the rule

If your view of the cross street is blocked, edge forward slowly until you can see. Crossing drivers will see your front end and can slow or warn you.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Blocking the box (gridlock)

In heavy traffic you may not enter an intersection unless there is room on the far side for your vehicle without blocking other vehicles or pedestrians.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Know the rule

Look to the sides near shopping centers, parking lots, construction areas, busy sidewalks, playgrounds and school yards — someone is likely to enter the road.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Know the rule

Approaching any railroad crossing, slow down and look both ways. Assuming no train is coming is a leading cause of crossing deaths. Make sure there is room on the far side before crossing.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Know the rule

At a crossing with more than one track, wait until the passing train is well down the track before crossing — it may hide another train approaching.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Put it into practice

Your light turns green. Before pulling out, you glance left and see a car racing to beat its red light. You wait for it to pass, confirm the far side of the intersection has room for your car, then go.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

A driver is stopped and their view of a cross street is blocked by parked cars. What should they do?
  1. Pull fully into the cross street to look
  2. Honk before proceeding
  3. Back up and try another route
  4. Creep forward until you can see

Answer: Creep forward until you can see

If your view of a cross street is blocked, edge forward slowly until you can see, which also lets crossing drivers see you.

Handbook p. 17 ↗
At a railroad crossing with more than one track, a train has just passed on the near track. What should you do?
  1. Cross immediately since one train already passed
  2. Wait; another train may be hidden
  3. Only wait if you hear another train
  4. Cross only if lights have stopped flashing entirely

Answer: Wait; another train may be hidden

At crossings with more than one track, wait until the passing train is well down the track, since it may hide another approaching train.

Handbook p. 17 ↗
According to the handbook, what is one of the leading causes of fatalities at railroad crossings?
  1. Stalling on the tracks
  2. Assuming no train is coming
  3. Crossing gates that fail
  4. Driving over the tracks at night

Answer: Assuming no train is coming

Assuming that a train is not coming is one of the leading causes of fatalities at railroad crossings; always look both ways.

Handbook p. 17 ↗
At an intersection with an inoperative traffic light, you should treat it as though it has no controls at all and proceed at will.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

State law requires a driver at an intersection with an inoperative stop light to stop as though it were controlled by a stop sign.

Handbook p. 17 ↗
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