Railroad and Crossing Signs
Railroad crossing signs and signals warn of a conflict between road traffic and trains. The exam tests the crossbuck, advance warning signs, active signals, and the rules for clearing tracks.
Core rules
- The crossbuck is an X-shaped white sign with black "RAILROAD CROSSING" lettering. At a passive crossing it means yield to trains; if a train is approaching, stop.
- A yellow circular sign with a black "X" and "RR" is an advance warning sign placed before the crossing. A plaque below the crossbuck shows the number of tracks.
- Flashing red lights mean stop. Gates mean stop and remain stopped until the gates rise and the lights stop flashing. Never drive around a lowered gate.
- Do not stop on the tracks. Before crossing, confirm there is room on the far side for your vehicle.
- After one train passes, another may follow on a second track; wait until you can see clearly in both directions.
- "Exempt" signs apply only to specific vehicles, such as certain emergency or transit vehicles, not to general traffic.
Worked example
You approach a crossbuck with a "2 TRACKS" plaque and no lights. A freight train passes from left to right and clears the crossing. You start forward, then see a second train approaching from the right on the other track. Because the plaque warned of two tracks, you should have waited and looked again. Stop short of the tracks and check both directions before proceeding.
Traps
- Treating a crossbuck as a stop sign that always requires a full stop even when no train is near.
- Driving around a gate that is down or starting to lower.
- Stopping on the tracks in traffic.
- Ignoring the track-count plaque after the first train passes.