What is the appropriate action to take when approaching a railroad crossing that does not have signals to direct traffic?
- Always bring the car to a complete stop.
- Slow down and be prepared to stop. ✓
- All railroad crossings have signals so you will never encounter this situation.
- Increase your speed to get across the tracks quickly.
Answer: B. Slow down and be prepared to stop.
Slow down and be prepared to stop when approaching a railroad crossing without signals.
Why this is the answer
The Florida handbook says that as you approach a highway-railroad crossing, you slow down and get ready to stop. It does not say every crossing requires a full stop. A stop is required when warning devices are flashing, a gate is lowered, a flagger warns of a train, or a train is clearly visible. At a crossing without signals, slowing down gives you time to check all tracks and stop if a train is coming.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Always bring the car to a complete stop. — Always bringing the car to a complete stop is not the rule for every crossing; the handbook requires a stop only in listed situations such as flashing devices, a lowered gate, a flagger, or a visible train.
- C. All railroad crossings have signals so you will never encounter this situation. — The handbook describes flashing lights and gates at many crossings, not all of them, so you can encounter a crossing without signals.
- D. Increase your speed to get across the tracks quickly. — Speeding up to cross quickly goes against the handbook's instruction to slow down and be ready to stop.
Remember it
Treat every crossing as a place to ease off the gas and look, not a place to race.