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Rhode Island driving lesson · Driving Emergencies

Railroad Crossings, Vehicle Fire & Water

A 3-minute lesson from the Rhode Island 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 Emergencies
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
45, 46

A train can't swerve and may need more than a mile to stop, so railroad crossings demand patience. Fire and water emergencies have their own counter-intuitive rules: don't open a burning hood, and don't open the door in water.

If your car stalls on the tracks and a train is coming:

  • Get everyone out and off the tracks, as far away as possible
  • Run away from the tracks in a parallel line, in the direction opposite to the train's travel
  • Debris from the crash travels the same direction the train is moving
Handbook p. 45 ↗

Railroad crossing rules:

  • Watch for the round yellow RR sign and RR pavement markings
  • When red lights flash or gates lower: stop, look and listen
  • Never race a train or go around lowered gates
  • Buses and hazardous-material trucks must always stop before crossing—be patient
  • Assume a train can come even on tracks that look abandoned
Handbook p. 46 ↗
1½ miles

Distance a train may need to stop after applying its brakes

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Railroad crossbuck
Railroad crossing (crossbuck) sign
Railroad crossing with gate and flashing lights
Railroad crossing gate with flashing lights

Vehicle fire (smoke from under the hood):

  • Pull off the road, turn off the ignition and move away
  • Call 911 for police and fire
  • If flames are shooting under the hood, DO NOT open it
  • If the fire is out of control, move at least 100 feet away—the fuel tank could explode
  • Don't try to put out the fire yourself
Handbook p. 46 ↗
100 ft

Minimum distance to move away from an out-of-control vehicle fire

Handbook p. 46 ↗

Vehicle in water:

  • Remove your seat belt immediately
  • Open a window—power windows before water shorts the electrical system
  • Help children out of belts and seats; move passengers to the front
  • Exit and climb onto the roof, then call 911 and look for dry land
  • Avoid opening the door—water rushes in and can flip the car
  • If it sinks first, climb to the rear seat for the air pocket, breathe, exit a window
  • Never go back in for belongings
Handbook p. 46 ↗

Put it into practice

Your car stalls on the tracks and you see a train approaching from the east, heading west. Get everyone out and run away from the tracks toward the east—the direction the train is coming from—so the westbound debris flies away from you.

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.

If your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks with a train approaching, what should you do?
  1. Stay inside and try to restart the engine
  2. Get out and run opposite the train's direction of travel
  3. Push the vehicle off the tracks yourself
  4. Run in the same direction the train is traveling

Answer: Get out and run opposite the train's direction of travel

Get everyone out and run far from the tracks in the direction opposite the train's travel, since the debris field moves the same way the train does.

Handbook p. 45 ↗
About how far can it take a train to stop after applying its brakes?
  1. About 100 feet
  2. About 500 feet
  3. A mile and a half
  4. About a quarter of a mile

Answer: A mile and a half

It may take a train a mile and a half to come to a complete stop after applying the brakes.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
If flames are shooting from under your vehicle's hood, what should you avoid?
  1. Calling 911
  2. Pulling off the road
  3. Moving away from the vehicle
  4. Opening the hood

Answer: Opening the hood

If the fire is under the hood and flames are shooting, do NOT open the hood; pull off, turn off the ignition, move away and call 911.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
If your vehicle's fire is out of control, how far away should you move?
  1. At least 100 feet
  2. At least 20 feet
  3. At least 500 feet
  4. At least 10 feet

Answer: At least 100 feet

If the fire is out of control, move at least 100 feet away, since a fuel fire can cause the tank to explode.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
If your vehicle sinks in water before you can escape, what should you do?
  1. Stay in the driver's seat and wait for rescue
  2. Climb into the rear seat, where an air pocket may remain
  3. Move to the front seat, near the dashboard
  4. Open the driver's door immediately

Answer: Climb into the rear seat, where an air pocket may remain

The engine's weight sinks the vehicle nose first, so a pocket of air may remain in the rear as it settles.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
If your vehicle drives into water, what is the first thing you should do?
  1. Immediately open the driver's door
  2. Immediately call 911
  3. Immediately remove your seat belt
  4. Immediately turn off the engine

Answer: Immediately remove your seat belt

The first step in a vehicle-in-water emergency is to immediately remove your seat belt.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
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