Emergencies, Vehicle Breakdowns, and Railroad Crossings
Emergency and railroad-crossing questions test split-second decisions: breakdowns, skids, tire failures, and the one place where a mistake is often fatal.
Breakdowns and skids
If your vehicle breaks down, signal, pull as far off the road as possible, turn on hazard lights, and stay in the car with seat belts on if traffic is fast. If you must exit, exit on the side away from traffic. In a skid, look and steer where you want to go, ease off the accelerator, and avoid hard braking. For a tire blowout, grip the wheel, keep the car straight, and slow gradually.
Railroad crossings
A crossbuck means yield to trains. Flashing red lights mean stop; gates mean stop and stay stopped. Never stop on the tracks - wait until you can clear the crossing completely. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get everyone out immediately and run away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle, toward the approaching train's direction of travel, to avoid debris. If a gate lowers onto your car, drive through it.
Worked example
Your car stalls on tracks and a train is coming. Reasoning: do not try to restart the car repeatedly. Unbuckle, get passengers out, and move away from the tracks at an angle - not straight down the track line. Call 911 once clear.
Traps
Stopping on tracks because traffic ahead is backed up; trying to beat a train; and staying in a car that is stuck on tracks. Also, do not drive around lowered gates.