Importance Of Railroad Crossing Essay

547 Words2 Pages

Crossing a railroad in a motor vehicle can be very dangerous. To prevent serious injury or fatalities from trains a driver should know how to safely cross a railroad. First the driver should alway slow down, this gives the driver more time to think and observe their surroundings. A driver should never pass another car traveling in the same direction as them at a railroad crossing. When passing a car the driver can not see if their is a train coming from the right side, keep in mind that if a car is stopped and you plan to pass it is not a very smart idea considering the car is stopped for a reason. Before crossing a railroad you should turn down your car radio as conductors will often sound the horn on a train while approaching a crossing. A driver should always assume that there is a train …show more content…

At public crossings there are specific signs called Crossbuck signs, these signs are in the shape of an x with the black lettering “Railroad Crossing”. Sometimes there are more than one track and there will be a number located underneath the sign indicating how many tracks there are. Regardless of what indications a crossing may have it is required that you stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail. It is also illegal to park closer than 50 feet to any railroad unless it is posted that it is okay to do so. To safely cross a railroad you should: always expect a train to be coming, don’t get trapped on the railroad, if you are to get stuck or your vehicle stalls get out and run toward the approaching train as debris from the collision could cause injury, watch for second trains, never drive through, around, or under barriers, never race trains, watch for stopped cars, don’t misjudge the speed and distance of the approaching train, and exercise extra caution at night. Trains can be very dangerous and they are often much faster than a driver may

Open Document