Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings
What this domain covers
This domain tests the school-bus-specific railroad crossing procedure. Maryland law requires a school bus to stop at railroad-highway grade crossings; gates and flashing lights do not replace your own stop and check. The examiner wants a complete sequence: stop, open, listen, look, cross without stopping, and know what to do if the bus stalls.
Core rules
- Stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail.
- Open the service door and driver's window; turn off radio, fans, and other noise sources.
- Look and listen in both directions, and check that the track is clear far enough to cross completely.
- Cross in a gear low enough to avoid shifting; do not shift while on the tracks.
- Make sure there is room on the far side before starting; never stop on the tracks.
- If the bus stalls or is trapped, evacuate students immediately and move them away from the tracks at an angle, then call 911.
- Never drive around a lowered gate or rely on another driver's signal.
Worked example
You approach a crossing with gates up and lights not flashing. You stop 20 feet from the nearest rail, open the door and window, turn off the radio, and look and listen both ways. A train is visible but far away; you still wait until it passes and the crossing is clear. You then cross in low gear without shifting, checking that the far side has space.
Traps that cost marks
Rolling through a crossing; stopping too close to the rail; opening only the window and not the door; shifting mid-crossing; and treating inactive lights as a guarantee. If you cannot see around a corner or obstruction, do not guess - stop and verify.