At which types of train crossings should you be most careful?

Be especially alert at crossings that do not have gates or flashing red light signals. train on the other track. Look both ways before crossing. After one train has cleared a crossing, be sure no other trains are near before starting across the tracks.



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Figures from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) state that approximately 60% of all railroad crossing fatalities occur at unprotected or passive crossings.

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Bike smart, ride safe Always pay attention when cycling or scootering around train tracks. When riding across tracks, get to a legal crossing, look both ways, and cross the tracks carefully. Also, always cross tracks at a right angle to avoid getting your tires stuck in the track.

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Although every accident is different, most railroad crossing accidents are usually a result of:
  • No warning signals.
  • Faulty or malfunctioning warning signals.
  • Vision obstructions on or near the track (like tall grass, fencing, signs, or buildings)
  • The operator's failure to signal.
  • Track defects.
  • Track obstructions.


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Never try to make it across a railroad crossing if you see a train coming. The main reason is that it can take a train moving 55 mph over a mile to come to a complete stop if they pull the emergency brake. So there's no chance they can stop if you hit some bad luck and break down on the tracks.

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Do not walk, run, cycle or operate all terrain vehicles (ATVs) on railroad tracks, rights-of-way or through tunnels. The only safe place to cross railroad tracks is at a designated public crossing. Do not cross the tracks immediately after a train passes. A second train might be blocked by the first.

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Advance warning signs The advance warning sign is a round, yellow sign bearing the lettering RXR. The X is very large, covering the full diameter of the sign. It is usually the first warning you will see that you are approaching a railroad crossing. Slow down, look and listen for an approaching train.

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The 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami train wreck is the deadliest recorded train disaster in history, claiming the lives of at least 1,700 people. The incident was the result of a devastating tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which caused severe destruction to railway infrastructure.

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Cross tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings. Do not walk, run, cycle or operate all terrain vehicles (ATVs) on railroad tracks, rights-of-way or through tunnels. The only safe place to cross railroad tracks is at a designated public crossing. Do not cross the tracks immediately after a train passes.

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Railroad tracks are private property, not public trails. It's illegal to walk on the tracks unless you're at a designated crossing.

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If a train is coming, get out immediately and move quickly toward the oncoming train and away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle. This is to protect you if the train does hit your vehicle. The debris will fly in the same direction as the train's path.

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While crossing a railroad (or a speed bump), you need to slow down, mainly to negotiate the uneven surface. Essentially, you take your foot off the accelerator and put it on the brake pedal.

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Reduce your speed when approaching crossings and look both ways. Look and listen for trains even if the red lights and crossing arms aren't active. Reduce speed when approaching crossings and look both ways. Be sure all tracks are clear before crossing — there may be more than one set.

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In the United States it is the law, same as if involved in a vehicle to vehicle accident or accident with a pedestrian on the road is the same on the railroad, the law and railroad operating rules always require stopping the train after an accident or incident and rendering aid to injured people.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says approximately every three hours, a person or vehicle crashes with a train in the U.S. About half of all crossing collisions occur at highway-rail intersections with flashing lights or gates leaving nearly 1,000 people dead each year as a result.

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