Railroad crossings — Vermont Permit Test

It is against the law to drive through, around or under a closed railroad gate, and it is against the law to pass another vehicle at a railroad crossing.

The gate is down because a train is coming, and there is no version of going round it that ends well.

It is against the law to drive your vehicle through, around, or under a closed railroad gate. It is also against the law to pass another vehicle at a railroad crossing.

The driver of every vehicle must drive at a safe, reduced speed when approaching and crossing any public or private railroad grade crossing.

The surface at a crossing is rough and the view along the track is short, so speed takes away both margins.

The driver of every vehicle shall drive at a safe, reduced speed when approaching and crossing any public or private railroad grade crossing.

By law drivers must stop not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail when flashing lights, lowered gates or a flagman signal a train, when you see a train or hear its whistle, or when there is a stop sign at the crossing.

Fifteen feet is outside the swing of the train, which is wider than the rails it runs on.

By law, drivers must STOP not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail when:

After stopping where the law requires it, the vehicle may be driven across the tracks when it is safe to do so.

The stop is for the look. Once the look says the track is clear, the crossing is the safest place to not be.

the motor vehicle may be driven across the tracks when it is safe to do so

Pedestrians, bicyclists and moped riders must also obey railroad warning signals, and may not cross the tracks until it is safe.

A bicycle wheel can catch in a rail, so the extra seconds a rider needs come out of the same margin.

Pedestrians, bicyclists, and moped riders also must observe railroad warning signals and may not cross railroad tracks until it is safe to do so.

If a dangerous condition exists at a rail crossing, call the number listed on the emergency sign and give the posted crossing number, so the rail company can stop or reroute trains.

The crossing number is what tells a dispatcher hundreds of miles away which crossing to stop the trains for.

Be sure to give the posted crossing number so that the hazard can be identified correctly.

What is against the law at a railroad crossing in Vermont?

Going around a closed gate, or passing another vehicle. The gate is down because a train is coming, and there is no version of going round it that ends well. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.37: “It is against the law to drive your vehicle through, around, or under a closed railroad gate. It is also against the law to pass another vehicle at a railroad crossing.”