If you come to a railroad crossing with lowered gates and flashing warning lights, you should:
- Drive around the crossing gates if you can't see a train.
- Come to a complete stop well behind the gates, wait for the tracks to clear, and proceed once the gates are lifted. ✓
- Slow down and drive around the gates.
Answer: B. Come to a complete stop well behind the gates, wait for the tracks to clear, and proceed once the gates are lifted.
Stop completely well behind the lowered gates, wait for the tracks to clear, and go forward only after the gates are fully raised.
Why this is the answer
The manual says that at an active crossing you must not proceed until the gates are completely raised and the lights are off. It also says going around lowered gates is illegal and dangerous. Flashing red lights and lowered gates mean you must stop before the tracks, and you should not cross until the signals stop and the gates are completely up. So the safe and legal action is to stop behind the gates, wait, and proceed only when they are lifted.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Drive around the crossing gates if you can't see a train. — Going around lowered gates is illegal and dangerous, even if you do not see a train.
- C. Slow down and drive around the gates. — Slowing down is not enough; you must stop for lowered gates and flashing lights, and driving around them is illegal and dangerous.
Remember it
Gates down or lights flashing? Stop and wait, and never go around.