At what distance should you stop away from railroad tracks if a train is crossing quizlet?
Flashing red lights, lowered crossing gates and/or a bell at a railroad crossing indicate that you must stop, at least 15 feet (5 m) from the tracks.
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Slow down when approaching a railroad crossing. Look both ways TWICE before crossing a railroad track. Never engage in a race with a train to cross the tracks. Keep a minimum distance of 15 feet from the tracks when stopped.
A train can extend three or more feet on either side of the steel rail, so the safe zone for pedestrians is well beyond three feet on either side. And when vehicles are stopped at a designated crossing, they should remain 15 feet or more from a rail.
The US standard railroad gauge is 4 feet, 8.5 inches (Gauge means width between the two rails). The U.S. federal safety standards allow the standard gauge to vary from 4 ft 8 in (1,420 mm) to 4 ft 9 1/2 in (1,460 mm) for operation up to 60 mph (97 km/h).
Stop, look and listen – Stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the crossing. Open windows and doors, look both ways carefully and look and listen for a train.
Fact #7: Trains Are Bigger than TracksPeople may think they can stand alongside tracks and be safe from a train, but the truth is trains are wider than the tracks. A train can extend three or more feet on either side of the steel rail, so the safe zone for pedestrians is well beyond three feet on either side.
If there are no gates, drivers are required to stop and may proceed only when it is safe to do so. Remember, trains always have the right-of-way. Some roads will have lights and a crossbuck above the road on a cantilever. Flashing red lights with gates are used to temporarily close the road when a train is approaching.
The bottom line is that vehicles with passengers or flammable materials, as well as school buses must stop at all railroad crossings. If any of them don't, the driver could face a penalty of up to $1,000 and a few months in jail. So, if you operate such a vehicle, stop when you see flashing lights and crossing signs.
Steps for Navigating CrossingsStop, look both ways, and listen. Know that trains always have the right of way. Don't stop on the tracks. Make sure you have room to get across.
Motor vehicles transporting passengers and certain types of hazardous materials, as cited in 49 CFR 392.10(a), are forbidden from crossing railroad tracks without first stopping within 50 feet but no closer than 15 feet, listening, and looking both ways for an approaching train.
When approaching a crossing, roll down your windows, turn off the radio or air conditioner, and listen for whistles or bells. Never shift gears on the railroad crossing, downshift before you reach it. If you must stop, keep a distance of 15 to 50 feet from the tracks.