Railroad crossings — Texas Permit Test

A driver must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail when a railroad signal, a lowered gate, or a flag person warns of a train.

Closer than fifteen feet is inside the swing of the train; further than fifty and you cannot see down the track. The band is both at once.

When approaching a railroad grade crossing, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail if:

A driver must stop at a railroad crossing when an approaching train is within about 1,500 feet, because the train will sound an audible signal.

A train that close cannot stop for you and is closing faster than it looks. The horn is the warning the law expects you to act on.

approaching train is within about 1,500 feet of the crossing

A driver must remain stopped at a railroad grade crossing until allowed to proceed or until it is safe to proceed.

Gates lift and lights stop for a reason, and a second train can be behind the first. Waiting for the all-clear is the rule.

You are required to stop at a railroad grade crossing and remain stopped until allowed to proceed or it is safe to proceed

Failing to obey the law on railroad grade crossings carries a fine of $50 to $200.

It is a small fine for something that kills people. The penalty that matters at a crossing is the train.

A person who fails to obey the law regarding railroad grade crossings is subject to a fine of $50 to $200

Where a railroad crossing is marked only with a crossbuck or a reduce speed sign, a driver looks both ways, listens for a whistle, and stops if a train is approaching.

Nothing here will flash or drop in front of you. The driver is the warning system at this kind of crossing.

If a railroad crossing is marked only with a cross-buck sign or reduce speed sign, then look both ways, and listen for a whistle

Where red lights are flashing at a railroad crossing, a driver stops and stays stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing.

The lights keep flashing while a second train is coming. Moving off when the first one clears is how people are hit.

If red lights are flashing at a railroad crossing, stop. If a train is approaching, remain stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing

A driver must be sure the tracks are clear before crossing, because there may be two or more sets of tracks and one train could hide another.

The first train clears and the view opens onto a second one already there. Looking again is what the rule is asking for.

Be sure the tracks are clear before you proceed to cross. There may be two or more sets of tracks. One train could be blocking the view of another

A driver whose car stalls on the tracks with a train approaching should get out quickly, move away, and run toward the approaching train at the side of the tracks.

The debris flies the way the train is going. Running toward it along the side puts you behind the impact instead of in front of it.

away from the tracks. Run toward the approaching train to the side of the tracks and avoid flying debris

Trains do not and cannot stop at crossings, and they always have the right-of-way.

A loaded freight train needs more than a mile to stop. Nothing about being in the right changes the arithmetic.

Remember, trains do not and cannot stop at crossings. Trains always have the right-of-way

A driver should never stop on railroad tracks.

Traffic ahead can stop without warning and leave you sitting on the rails. The rule is to be sure of the far side before you start.

Never stop on the tracks. If your car stalls on the tracks and you cannot restart it, get out and try to push the car off the tracks

How far from the nearest rail must a Texas driver stop at a railroad crossing?

Between 15 and 50 feet. Closer than fifteen feet is inside the swing of the train; further than fifty and you cannot see down the track. The band is both at once. Texas Driver Handbook, p.21: “When approaching a railroad grade crossing, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail if:”