What is the appropriate action to take when approaching a railroad crossing that does not have signals (such as lights or crossing gates)?
- Always bring the car to a complete stop
- Slow down and be prepared to stop ✓
- Do nothing; all railroad crosings have signals
- Increase speed to get across the tracks quickly
Answer: B. Slow down and be prepared to stop
Slow down and be prepared to stop when you approach a railroad crossing with no signals.
Why this is the answer
The manual covers this directly. It notes that some grade crossings have no gates or flashing lights, and calls these unmarked or passive crossings. At those crossings you should reduce speed and be ready to stop, then check that no train is coming before you cross. If a train is coming, you wait for it to pass and cross only when it is safe. The manual also points out that the train you see is closer and moving faster than it looks, so that check matters.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Always bring the car to a complete stop — The manual does not require a complete stop at every crossing without signals; it asks you to slow down and be ready to stop, then cross when it is safe.
- C. Do nothing; all railroad crosings have signals — The manual states plainly that some grade crossings have no gates or flashing lights, so assuming every crossing has signals is wrong.
- D. Increase speed to get across the tracks quickly — Speeding up goes against the manual's warning that trains cannot stop quickly and that a train looks farther away and slower than it really is.
Remember it
No lights, no gate? Treat the crossing as a question you have to answer with your eyes: ease off the gas, look both ways, and cross only when the tracks are clear.