Railroad crossing safety rules — Oklahoma Permit Test

Expect a train on any track at any time.

Trains do not keep a timetable a driver can count on, and an empty crossing yesterday says nothing about today.

Expect a train on any track at any time.

Never move onto a railroad track unless you are certain you can drive across safely; once you have started across the tracks, keep going.

A car that stops or stalls on the tracks has nowhere to go when the train arrives.

Never move onto a railroad track unless you are certain you can drive across safely.

Never drive around the gates; if they are down, stop behind the gate. It is against the law to drive through lowered gates.

Drivers who weave around a gate to beat a train are a common cause of crossing deaths.

If the gates are down, stop behind the gate.

If you are crossing the tracks and the warning lights begin flashing or the gates start coming down, do not stop; keep moving. The gate on the far side will not block you in.

The signals allow enough time to finish crossing, but a car that stops and tries to back up may stall on the tracks.

If you are crossing the tracks and the warning lights begin flashing or the gates start coming down, don’t stop.

Never race a train; you will never have a second chance if you lose the race.

A driver who guesses wrong about a train's speed does not walk away from the crossing.

Never race a train. You will never have a second chance if you lose the race.

Never pass at a highway-rail crossing, not even cars or bicyclists; bicycle tires can get caught on the tracks and throw the rider across your path.

A narrow tire can drop into the gap beside a rail and throw a rider right in front of a passing car.

Never pass at a highway-rail crossing.

Because of a train's large size, it appears to be moving much slower than it is; if you see or hear a train, stop and wait for it to pass.

Drivers who think a train is crawling try to beat it and find it arrives far sooner than they guessed.

Because of the large size of a train, it appears to be moving much slower than you think.

When should you expect a train at a railroad crossing?

On any track at any time. Trains do not keep a timetable a driver can count on, and an empty crossing yesterday says nothing about today. Oklahoma Driver Manual, p.57: “Expect a train on any track at any time.”