Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings
Required stop
This domain tests railroad-highway grade crossing procedures. Unless state law provides a specific exception, a school bus must stop at railroad crossings. Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail-close enough to see and hear, far enough to be safe. Turn off noisy equipment, open the door and driver’s window, and listen. Look both ways and in both directions again. Do not stop on the tracks. Cross in a gear that lets you clear the tracks without shifting.
Signals and gates
Never cross when lights are flashing, gates are down or moving, a train is visible, or a flagger signals stop. If lights flash after you start across, keep going if you can clear the tracks; do not stop on them. If the bus stalls on the tracks, evacuate students immediately, move them away from the tracks and out of the debris path, and call 911.
Worked example
You approach a crossing with gates up but red lights flashing. You must stop and wait. The lights may be malfunctioning, but you cannot treat that as clearance. Report the malfunction to dispatch and use an alternate route if possible. Proceeding because the gate is up is a critical error.
Traps that cost marks
Do not roll through a crossing. Do not stop closer than 15 feet or farther than 50 feet. Do not cross while the door is closed and you have not listened. Do not stop on the tracks in traffic. Do not ignore lights because the gate is up.