California permit test: railroad crossings
Crossing signs and signals, when to stop and what to do if stuck. 4 questions.
Railroad signals show a train is coming. Where should you stop?
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Sample railroad crossings questions
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Railroad signals show a train is coming. Where should you stop?
- A Right at the edge of the nearest rail
- B At least 5 feet from the nearest track
- C At least 15 feet from the nearest track
- D At least 50 feet from the nearest track
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C. At least 15 feet from the nearest track
When crossing devices or a person warn that a train is coming, stop at least 15 feet from the nearest track. That keeps you well clear of the train, and you should never stop on the tracks themselves.
A train has passed and the crossing gate is rising, but the red lights are still flashing. What should you do?
- A Go, since the gate is going up
- B Go if you can see no other train
- C Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing
- D Drive around the gate end carefully
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C. Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing
Do not cross until the red lights stop flashing, even if the gate rises. Another train could be coming on a different track or from the other direction.
Your car stalls on the tracks, a train is coming, and the warning lights are flashing. What should you do?
- A Get out and run diagonally toward the train
- B Get out and run away from the train
- C Get out and push the car off the tracks
- D Stay inside and keep trying to restart
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A. Get out and run diagonally toward the train
Get out right away and run diagonally away from the tracks in the direction the train is coming from, then call 911. When the train hits your car, debris is thrown forward along the tracks.
A truck ahead has a diamond-shaped hazardous materials placard. What should you expect at a railroad crossing?
- A It must use the left lane to cross
- B It must wait for a flagger to signal it
- C It must stop before crossing the tracks
- D It may cross without slowing down
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C. It must stop before crossing the tracks
Vehicles with hazardous load placards must stop before crossing railroad tracks, as must buses and school buses. Expect these vehicles to stop and leave extra space behind them.