Railroad and Crossing Signs
Railroad crossings demand a specific sequence of recognition and response. The advance warning sign is a yellow circle with a black X and two R's. At the crossing itself you may see a white crossbuck (X-shaped sign) marking the location, often with a number plate, plus flashing red lights, a bell, and gates at active crossings. A crossbuck means yield to trains; it does not mean the crossing is protected by signals.
Key concepts: trains cannot stop quickly and always have the right of way; flashing red lights mean stop and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the gate, if present, is fully raised; never drive around a lowered gate. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get everyone out and move away from the tracks, then call for help. Pavement markings - a stop line and the letters "RR" - often precede the crossing.
Traps: treating a crossbuck as a stop sign that requires a full stop every time (you must yield, and stop if a train is approaching); proceeding when one train passes because a second train may be coming on another track; and assuming flashing lights can be ignored once the gate begins to rise.
Rule of thumb: at any railroad crossing, look and listen, and never commit until you are certain no train is coming on any track. Worked example: the lights flash and the gate lowers, then a train passes and the gate starts up while lights still flash. You remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the gate is fully raised, then check both directions before crossing.