How many feet are you supposed to stop before a railroad track?

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.



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Stop at least 20 feet, but no more than 50 feet, from the nearest track. Always stop if you see a train coming or you hear the whistle, horn, or bell of an approaching train. Never go under lowering gates or around lowered gates. Flashing red warning lights indicate you must stop and wait.

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A 150-car freight train traveling at 50 miles per hour takes 8,000 feet to stop. That's one and a half miles.

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shall, before crossing at grade a track of a railroad, stop the vehicle not more than fifty (50) feet and not less than fifteen (15) feet from the nearest rail of the railroad.

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Trains have the right-of-way because they cannot quickly stop for a motorist at crossings or for trespassers on the tracks. The average freight train, traveling at 55 MPH, takes anywhere from 1 to 1½ miles to stop. Traveling at the same speed, the average automobile can stop in only 200 feet.

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People 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.

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A train can extend more than three feet beyond the rail in either direction; keep a healthy distance of at least 15 feet from the rails at all times.

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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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Never walk on tracks; it is illegal to trespass and highly dangerous. By the time a locomotive engineer sees a trespasser or vehicle on the tracks it's too late. It can take a mile or more to stop a train.

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Expert-Verified Answer. The appropriate action to take when approaching a railroad crossing that does not have signals to direct traffic is Slow down and be prepared to stop.

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There can be many reasons: Congestion on the system generally or in a specific train yard, a surge in shipments (harvest time, etc.), track repair or maintenance – any number of things.

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