Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Procedures
This domain tests a fixed, no-shortcuts procedure at highway-rail grade crossings, plus what to do if the bus stalls on the tracks.
Core rules
- Stop 15 to 50 feet before the nearest rail, not closer than 15 feet. Stop at every crossing unless it is officially exempt under Kentucky rules and posted; when in doubt, stop.
- Turn off noisy equipment such as the heater, fan, and radio. Open the service door, look and listen both ways, then close the door before moving.
- Use a gear that lets you cross completely without shifting. Do not shift gears while on the tracks.
- Check clearance on the far side. Never enter unless you can clear all tracks without stopping.
- Watch for multiple tracks and a second train. After one train passes, look and listen again.
- If the bus stalls or is stuck, evacuate immediately if a train is approaching. Move students away from the tracks, at least 100 feet, and call 911 and the railroad emergency number.
- Do not rely on gates; they can malfunction or be damaged.
Worked example
The gate rises after a first train passes. The driver starts to cross, then sees a second train on an adjacent track. The driver stops before the tracks and waits. Reasoning: the first train masks the sound of the second, and multiple tracks require a fresh look and listen after each train clears.
Traps
Frequent errors include a rolling stop, stopping too close to the rails, leaving the heater on, shifting while crossing, following another bus onto the tracks, stopping on the far-side track, and ignoring a second train.