Railroad crossings — North Carolina Permit Test

When a signal, gate or flagger warns of a train, or a train is approaching, you must stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail, and not proceed until you can do so safely.

Fifteen feet keeps you clear of a train that overhangs the rail. Fifty keeps you close enough to see the crossing.

Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing under any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of the vehicle shall stop within 50 feet, but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad and shall not proceed until he/she can do so safely.

You must stop at a crossing when a train approaching within about 1,500 feet sounds a signal audible from that distance and is an immediate hazard, or when an approaching train is plainly visible and dangerously close.

A train you can hear from that far is closer than it looks and faster than it seems. The horn is the signal to stop.

A railroad train approaching within approximately 1500 feet of the highway crossing emits a signal audible from that distance, and the railroad train is an immediate hazard because of its speed or nearness to the crossing; or

No one may drive through, around or under a crossing gate or barrier while it is closed or being opened or closed.

The gate comes down because a train is coming, not because one is visible. By the time you see it, it is too late to be on the tracks.

No person shall drive any vehicle through, around, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while the gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed, nor shall any pedestrian pass through, around, over, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while the gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.

When stopping at a railroad crossing, keep as far to the right of the highway as possible and do not form two lanes of traffic unless the roadway is marked for four or more lanes.

Cars two abreast at a crossing leave no room for anything to get through, and put a second car closer to the train.

When stopping as required at a railroad crossing, the driver shall keep as far to the right of the highway as possible and shall not form two lanes of traffic unless the roadway is marked for four or more lanes of traffic.

A train traveling at 55 mph takes more than a mile to come to a stop, and trains have the right of way over all highway traffic, including police, fire and ambulance vehicles.

The engineer who sees you on the tracks cannot stop for you. The train’s right of way is physics as much as law.

A train, which may weigh several thousand tons traveling at 55 mph may take more than a mile to stop.

Trains can approach a crossing at any time and from any direction, so as you approach the tracks look both ways and listen, because you may have to stop.

A crossing with no train in sight is still a crossing. Trains do not keep to a schedule you can see, and they come from either way.

Trains can approach a crossing at any time from any direction.

Vehicles must always yield to a train, even when the crossing has only a crossbuck and no lights or gates, and when flashing red lights are used with the crossbuck you must stop as for any flashing red signal.

A crossing with no lights relies on the driver. The train is coming whether or not anything flashes.

Vehicles must always yield to a train even when the crossing only has a crossbuck and no lights or gates;

Do not move immediately after a train has passed; another train may be coming the other way or following the first, so wait until the red lights have stopped flashing.

A second train is hidden behind the first until the first is gone. The lights know it is there before you do.

Always wait until the red lights have stopped flashing before moving ahead;

Be prepared to stop behind vehicles that must stop at every crossing, such as school buses, passenger-carrying vehicles, for-hire vehicles and placarded hazardous-materials vehicles.

The bus ahead will stop at the tracks whether or not a train is coming. A driver who does not expect it runs into the back of it.

Be prepared to stop for vehicles that must stop at crossings, such as school buses, motor vehicles carrying passengers, for-hire vehicles or vehicles transporting explosives or hazardous materials (these vehicles are marked with placards).

If you are crossing the tracks when the lights start flashing or the gates start down, do not stop and do not back up: keep moving, because the gates are flexible and cannot trap you.

The gate is designed to break if you drive through it. A car that stops to avoid it is the one that ends up on the tracks.

If you happen to be crossing the tracks and the warning lights begin flashing or gates start to come down, do not stop, do not backup, KEEP MOVING.

If your vehicle stalls on or near the tracks, get out immediately, move away from the vehicle and the tracks, and use the blue Emergency Notification System sign at the crossing to report it to the railroad.

The car can be replaced. By the time the engineer sees it, the train cannot stop, so the people have to be out of it.

If your vehicle stalls on or near the tracks GET OUT IMMEDIATELY.

Every highway-railroad crossing in North Carolina must have a blue Emergency Notification System sign in each direction, giving the crossing’s identification number and the railroad’s emergency telephone number.

Calling 911 reaches the police, who then have to reach the railroad. The blue sign reaches the people who can stop the train.

The ENS sign, known as the “Blue sign,” contains the railroad crossing identification number, name of the railroad company and an emergency telephone number to report emergencies, hazardous conditions or issues with railroad crossing lights or gates directly to the railroad company.

The DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS sign reminds the driver not to stop on the railroad track for any reason; never stop on train tracks.

Traffic ahead can stall and leave you sitting on the rails. The sign is there because drivers have done exactly that.

The DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS sign reminds the driver not to stop on the railroad track for any reason.

Railroads are private property, and it is illegal and dangerous to drive on or cross the tracks except at designated crossings.

A crossing is built so a car can get over the rails and the train can see it. Anywhere else, neither is true.

Railroads are private property and it is illegal and dangerous to drive on or cross the tracks except at designated railroad crossings;

Many crossings have flashing red lights or lights with gates; if the warning signal activates you must stop before the gates lower across your side of the road, and it is unlawful and dangerous to move through a crossing when the gates are lowered.

The lights come on before the gate moves, to give you time to stop short of it. Waiting for the gate is waiting too long.

If the warning signal activates, you must stop before the gates lower across your side of the road.

When a crossing signal warns of a train, where must you stop?

Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. Fifteen feet keeps you clear of a train that overhangs the rail. Fifty keeps you close enough to see the crossing. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.60: “Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing under any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of the vehicle shall stop within 50 feet, but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad and shall not proceed until he/she can do so safely.”