Railroad crossing devices — Illinois Permit Test

A round advance warning sign with a black X and the letters RR means a highway-railway crossing is ahead, and it may be placed up to 750 feet before the crossing.

Seven hundred and fifty feet is the whole of the warning on a fast road. The crossing itself may not be in sight when you pass it.

Round Advance Warning Sign - A yellow sign with a black “X” and the letters “RR” means a highway-railway crossing is ahead. The sign may be placed up to 750 feet before the railroad crossing.

A solid yellow line before a railroad crossing means no passing, and white stop lines on each side of the track show a driver where to stop when a train is coming.

The markings do the same job as the signs, painted where a driver is already looking. The stop line is placed clear of the train.

Pavement Markings - A solid yellow line before the crossing means no passing. White stop lines on each side of the track show motorists where to stop when a train is approaching. These markings also indicate that a highway-railway crossing is ahead.

When railroad flashing light signals begin to flash a driver must always stop until the train has passed and the lights have stopped flashing.

The lights keep flashing while a second train is coming. Moving off when the first one clears is the mistake they are there to stop.

Flashing Light Signals - When lights begin to flash, you must always stop until the train has passed and the lights have stopped flashing.

A driver must stay stopped at a railroad crossing until the lowered gates are raised and the lights are no longer flashing, and must not try to beat the gates as they lower or drive around lowered gates.

Going round a gate is driving onto a track you cannot see down. It is the single most common way drivers are killed at crossings.

Gates - Remain stopped until the lowered gates are raised and lights are no longer flashing. Do not attempt to beat crossing gates as they are lowering or go around lowered gates.

Tracks fitted with an automated railroad crossing enforcement system may record the license plate, time, date and location of a violation, and drivers face fines and possible suspension of driving privileges.

The camera is watching a crossing with nobody standing at it. The ticket arrives weeks later with the license attached.

Tracks equipped with an automated railroad crossing enforcement system may record an image of the vehicle license plate number, time, date, and location of any violation.

An Emergency Notification System sign at a highway-rail grade crossing carries the contact information a person needs to reach the railroad responsible and identify that particular crossing.

The crossing number on the sign is how the railroad knows which one you mean. Without it they cannot stop the right train.

Emergency Notification System (ENS) - ENS sign gives the public critical emergency contact information at every highway-rail grade crossing. The information on the ENS sign enables the public to reach the railroad responsible for the crossing and identify the specific crossing in the event of an emergency.

How far before an Illinois railroad crossing may the round advance warning sign stand?

Up to 750 feet. Seven hundred and fifty feet is the whole of the warning on a fast road. The crossing itself may not be in sight when you pass it. Illinois Rules of the Road 2026, p.81: “Round Advance Warning Sign - A yellow sign with a black “X” and the letters “RR” means a highway-railway crossing is ahead. The sign may be placed up to 750 feet before the railroad crossing.”