Railroad Crossings and Hazardous Conditions
Railroad Crossings and Hazardous Conditions
This domain tests deliberate crossing procedures and driving in fog, smoke, rain, snow, ice, and high wind. The exam looks for space awareness and patience at crossings and reduced speed in bad visibility.
Core rules
- At a railroad crossing, slow down, turn off distracting noise, open a window, and look and listen both ways. Never stop on the tracks. Do not shift while crossing. Make sure there is room on the far side before starting across.
- Buses carrying passengers and vehicles carrying hazardous materials must stop at crossings unless an exemption applies. Even without a stop requirement, approach at a speed that lets you stop if a train appears.
- In fog, smoke, heavy rain, or snow, use low-beam headlights, reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid sudden maneuvers. If visibility is too poor, pull off safely and use flashers. In high wind, slow down and watch for trailer sway.
Worked example
A 40-foot trailer approaches a crossing with a flashing signal. Traffic beyond the tracks is backed up, leaving only 25 feet of clear space. The driver waits before the stop line instead of pulling onto the tracks. Reasoning: the vehicle needs enough clear space beyond the crossing to clear the tracks completely; entering with insufficient space risks being trapped when a train approaches.
Traps that cost marks
Trying to beat a train; stopping on the tracks because traffic is backed up; shifting during the crossing; and driving into thick smoke or fog because the road ahead looks familiar.