Roadwise States Maryland Driving lessons Railroad crossings Maryland driving lesson · Driving Conditions
Railroad crossings A 3-minute lesson from the Maryland course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Driving Conditions
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 18, 20, 30 Trains can't stop quickly, and they're often closer and faster than they look. At every crossing, expect a train and make sure you can get all the way across.
Crossbuck and round railroad advance warning sign Know the rule
Buses, school buses, and trucks carrying hazardous materials must stop before every railroad crossing. Be ready for them to stop.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Know the rule
Look for a train at any time. Trains can come from either direction and may be closer and faster than they appear.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Know the rule
If gates are down or warning lights are flashing, the road is temporarily closed. Stop and wait until the gates go up and the lights stop flashing.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Crossing gate with flashing lights Know the rule
A flashing red signal at a railroad crossing requires a complete stop even if you do not see a train.
Handbook p. 18 ↗ Know the rule
After a train passes, look both ways and make sure the tracks are clear. Another train may be coming on another track.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Know the rule
Never start across unless you can get completely over before a train comes. Make sure there is room for your vehicle on the other side.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Know the rule
If you have an emergency on or near a crossing, get out of the vehicle and move away from the tracks.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Know the rule
Report emergencies and safety problems using the information on the blue and white Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign Put it into practice
Traffic is backed up just past the tracks, leaving no room for your car on the far side. Stay behind the crossing until there is room; never stop on the tracks.
A useful reminder Round yellow sign = crossing AHEAD. Crossbuck = the crossing itself. Blue-and-white ENS sign = who to call.
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.
What types of vehicles must stop before every railroad crossing, regardless of a visible train? Only school buses Only commercial trucks All vehicles must always stop Buses, school buses, and trucks carrying hazardous materials Answer: Buses, school buses, and trucks carrying hazardous materials
Buses, school buses, and trucks carrying hazardous materials must stop before every railroad crossing.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ What should you do if the gates are down or warning lights are flashing at a railroad crossing? Stop and wait until it's clear Proceed carefully if no train is visible Drive around the gate if there's room Proceed slowly if the lights just started Answer: Stop and wait until it's clear
When gates are down or lights are flashing, the crossing is temporarily closed; stop and wait until it's clear.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ After a train passes a railroad crossing, what should you do before crossing? Cross immediately since the train has passed Look both ways for another train Wait exactly 30 seconds before crossing Only look in the direction the train came from Answer: Look both ways for another train
After a train passes, look both ways before crossing, since another train could be coming on a different track.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ What should you never do when approaching railroad tracks? Slow down before the crossing Check for warning signs Cross unless you can clear it Look both directions for trains Answer: Cross unless you can clear it
Never start to cross the tracks unless you can get completely over them before a train arrives, with room on the other side.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ If you have an emergency on or near railroad tracks, what should you do? Stay in the vehicle with hazards on Try to move the vehicle off the tracks first, no matter what Wait inside the vehicle for police Get out of the vehicle and move away from the tracks Answer: Get out of the vehicle and move away from the tracks
In an emergency on or near railroad tracks, get out of the vehicle and move away from the tracks immediately.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ The blue and white sign at a railroad crossing is used to report emergencies and safety problems. True False Answer: True
The Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign, blue and white, provides contact information to report railroad crossing emergencies.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Previous lesson Skids & hydroplaning Next lesson Work zones More in Driving Conditions About the source Roadwise’s Maryland course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 18, 20, 30. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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