You are coming to a railroad crossing where the crossing signals are flashing. You should:
- Stop and look for a train. ✓
- Slow down and look for a train.
- Look for a train, then speed up.
- Do what the vehicle ahead of you does.
Answer: A. Stop and look for a train.
You should stop and look for a train when the railroad crossing signals are flashing.
Why this is the answer
Florida's handbook says that when warning devices at a railroad crossing are flashing, every driver approaching must stop. It adds that flashing red lights mean a train is approaching, so you should stop right away rather than treat the crossing as a slow-down zone. The passage also says to slow down and be ready to stop at crossings generally, but the flashing signal triggers a mandatory stop. Stopping lets you check that the tracks are clear before you go on.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Slow down and look for a train. — Slowing down is not enough when the warning devices are flashing; the handbook requires an approaching driver to stop.
- C. Look for a train, then speed up. — Looking and then speeding up is wrong because a flashing signal means a train is approaching and you must stop before the crossing.
- D. Do what the vehicle ahead of you does. — Following what the vehicle ahead does is not a safe rule, since each driver approaching flashing signals is required to stop.
Remember it
Flashing lights at the tracks mean one thing: stop, not slow.