Roadwise States Oregon Driving lessons Streetcars and Light Rail Oregon driving lesson · Buses, Railroads & Special Situations
Streetcars and Light Rail A 3-minute lesson from the Oregon 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 Buses, Railroads & Special Situations
Checkpoint questions 4
Source pages 73, 74 Streetcars and light rail trains are electric transit vehicles running on tracks in the street, sometimes in the same lanes as cars. They stop often like buses, can't stop quickly and can't steer around you — so you give them the way.
Streetcars and light rail trains Electric transit vehicles that run on tracks embedded in the streets, sometimes sharing lanes with cars and making frequent stops to pick up and drop off passengers.
Handbook p. 73 ↗ Let streetcars and trains go first Always let streetcars and trains go first; don't pass one unless it's safe When one stops for passengers, stay behind it until it moves or the people are safely away Handbook p. 73 ↗ Don't block the tracks At intersections, stay behind any stop line before crossing tracks Never park on streetcar or train tracks — park behind the solid white line separating parking from the track No white line? Park as close to the curb as possible, away from the rails Check for approaching streetcars or trains before opening vehicle doors Make sure your parked car is clear of the tracks so a streetcar or train can pass Handbook p. 73 ↗ Intersections and turns Never turn in front of a streetcar or train going your direction in an adjacent lane, even if it's stopped Never turn in front of an approaching light rail train or streetcar unless it's safe Slow down and look both ways before crossing tracks at an intersection Turning where there are tracks: look both ways, signal, and be sure it's safe If there's a left turn signal, wait for the proper signal before turning left over the tracks Handbook p. 74 ↗ Pedestrians and lane changes Watch for people getting on or off at stops — passengers may run across lanes to catch a car Follow pedestrian signals and let people cross safely Check for streetcars and trains before changing lanes — they may be close behind you Avoid braking suddenly or making unpredictable moves in front of or around them Handbook p. 74 ↗ Know the rule
If you make contact with a streetcar or train, wait for the operator or police to tell you what to do.
Handbook p. 74 ↗ Put it into practice
A streetcar going your direction is stopped in the lane to your right, loading passengers. You want to turn right at the corner just ahead of it. Don't — never turn in front of a streetcar from an adjacent lane, even when it's stopped. Wait until it moves on.
A useful reminder Streetcars always go first: don't turn in front of them, block their tracks, or park where they can't pass.
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.
Never turn in front of a streetcar or light rail train traveling in the same direction as you, even if it: Has its turn signal on Is currently stopped Is more than a block away Is on a different track Answer: Is currently stopped
Never turn in front of one, even if stopped.
Handbook p. 74 ↗ When parking near streetcar or train tracks with a solid white line present, you should park: Directly on the white line Just past the white line toward the tracks Behind the white line, away from the tracks Anywhere at least 7 feet from the rails Answer: Behind the white line, away from the tracks
Always park behind the white line, away from the tracks.
Handbook p. 73 ↗ Before opening your vehicle door near streetcar or train tracks, you should always: Signal the streetcar operator Turn on your hazard lights Check only your side mirror for cars Check for approaching streetcars or trains Answer: Check for approaching streetcars or trains
Always check for oncoming streetcars or trains before opening doors.
Handbook p. 73 ↗ A streetcar stops ahead of you to pick up and drop off people. You should stay behind it until: It moves again or the people are safely away Its doors begin to close It turns off its interior lights The next traffic signal turns green Answer: It moves again or the people are safely away
If a streetcar or train stops to pick up or drop off people, stay behind it until it moves again or the people are safely away.
Handbook p. 73 ↗ Previous lesson Railroad Crossings Next lesson How to Park More in Buses, Railroads & Special Situations About the source Roadwise’s Oregon course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 73, 74. 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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