What should you do if the warning lights at a crossing begin to flash after you have started to cross the tracks?

What should you do if the warning lights at a crossing begin to flash after you have started to cross the tracks?

• A. Stop where you are until the train passes
• B. Shift to a higher gear to get over the tracks quicker
• C. Maintain your speed and keep moving forward
• D. Back up enough to clear the gate arm if it is safe to do so

Answer: (C)

The important idea is that if you’re already on a railroad crossing and the warning devices start flashing, you should keep moving to clear the tracks. Stopping on a crossing is dangerous because a train can be much closer than it appears, and being stopped there can trap you with a train approaching. Maintaining a steady, controlled pace helps you exit the crossing quickly and safely without getting stuck. Trying to shift to a higher gear to hurry over the tracks isn’t reliable and can lead to loss of control or stalling, and backing up while still on the crossing means you’re not actually off the tracks and could collide with an oncoming train. The safest course is to continue across at a steady speed to clear the crossing as soon as possible.

The important idea is that if you’re already on a railroad crossing and the warning devices start flashing, you should keep moving to clear the tracks. Stopping on a crossing is dangerous because a train can be much closer than it appears, and being stopped there can trap you with a train approaching. Maintaining a steady, controlled pace helps you exit the crossing quickly and safely without getting stuck. Trying to shift to a higher gear to hurry over the tracks isn’t reliable and can lead to loss of control or stalling, and backing up while still on the crossing means you’re not actually off the tracks and could collide with an oncoming train. The safest course is to continue across at a steady speed to clear the crossing as soon as possible.