Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings
The Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings domain tests the mandatory stop, the exceptions, and the stall procedure. The exam is strict here because a school bus is large, slow, and full of passengers who cannot evacuate quickly.
The required stop
Ohio requires a school bus to stop at every railroad crossing unless the crossing is marked EXEMPT. Stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail. Open the service door and the driver's window, turn off noisy equipment such as the heater or radio, and look and listen in both directions. Cross in the lowest gear; do not shift while crossing. Make sure there is room on the far side before you start, so you never stop on the tracks.
If the bus stalls
Evacuate immediately. Move students at least 100 feet from the tracks and away from the bus, then call 911. Do not try to restart the bus with students aboard if a train is coming.
Worked example
You approach a crossing with flashing lights but no gate. Reasoning: stop 15 to 50 feet from the rail, open the door and window, listen, and look both ways. Even if the lights are not flashing, the stop is required unless the crossing is posted EXEMPT. Cross in the lowest gear without shifting. If traffic is backed up beyond the tracks, wait before the stop line until there is room to clear the crossing completely.
Traps
Stopping inside the 15-foot limit or beyond 50 feet; shifting gears on the tracks; treating an EXEMPT sign as optional; and following a vehicle onto the tracks before there is room to clear them.