Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings
This domain tests the crossing procedure for vehicles carrying passengers. It is short, absolute, and heavily tested, because a bus stopped on a track is the worst-case scenario.
Core rules
- A commercial vehicle carrying passengers must stop at every highway-rail grade crossing, unless the crossing is marked exempt or abandoned.
- Stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. Closer than 15 feet leaves no margin; farther than 50 feet is a scoring error.
- Before moving, turn off the radio, heater, and fans, open the window, and look and listen in both directions.
- Check that the tracks are clear and that there is room for the whole bus on the far side before you start across.
- Do not shift gears while crossing. Cross without stopping.
- Watch for a second train on a second track after one passes.
- If the bus stalls or is stuck on the track: evacuate immediately and move people at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks, toward the approaching train, then call 911.
Worked example
At a gated crossing with lights flashing, the driver stops 20 feet back, silences the radio, opens the window, looks both ways, confirms the far side is clear, and crosses in one gear without stopping. The gate being up does not replace the look and listen.
Traps that cost marks
Stopping 10 feet from the rail; coasting across without a full stop; shifting mid-crossing; assuming a raised gate means the tracks are clear; stopping on the track because traffic is backed up.