Railroad-Highway Crossings
What this domain tests
Railroad-Highway Crossings tests the mandatory stop, the exact stopping distance, the listening procedure, and what to do if the bus stalls on the tracks. School buses are stopped at crossings even when the warning devices are off.
Core rules
- In Missouri a school bus must stop at every railroad-highway crossing except one marked with an official EXEMPT sign.
- Stop with the front bumper no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail.
- Turn on the hazard lights, open the door and a window, and turn off the heater, fan, and radio so you can hear.
- Look and listen in both directions. At multiple tracks, check each track separately for a second train.
- Cross in a gear low enough that you will not shift while crossing. Never stop or shift on the tracks.
- Be sure there is room for the whole bus on the far side before you start across.
Worked example
The crossing has flashing lights and raised gates, and the lights are dark. The driver still stops 20 feet from the rail, opens the door, silences the fan, and listens. A second train approaches on the far track, hidden from the signal. Stopping short and listening is what prevents a crash.
Traps that cost marks
- Rolling across because the gates are up or the lights are off.
- Stopping inside the 15-foot limit or beyond 50 feet.
- Shifting gears while on the tracks.
- Following traffic onto the crossing before there is room on the far side.
If the bus stalls on the tracks
Get everyone off the bus, move them at least 100 feet from the tracks, and call 911 and the railroad.