Colorado permit test: railroad crossings
Crossing signs and signals, when to stop and what to do if stuck. 5 questions.
Your vehicle stalls on a railroad crossing and you do not see a train. What should you do?
Keyboard: press 1–4 or A–D to answer, Enter for the next question, S to save, R to read aloud, P to pause reading, L to listen and answer.
Sample railroad crossings questions
Your vehicle stalls on a railroad crossing and you do not see a train. What should you do?
- A Push the car off the tracks yourself
- B Get everyone out and move far away, then call the number on the blue sign
- C Stay inside and keep trying to restart the engine
- D Turn on your hazard lights and stay inside the vehicle until help finally arrives
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B. Get everyone out and move far away, then call the number on the blue sign
If your vehicle stalls on a crossing, get everyone out and immediately move as far away as possible, even if you do not see a train. Call the number on the blue Emergency Notification Sign or local law enforcement.
At a railroad crossing with no visible stop line, how far from the tracks must you stop while waiting for a train?
- A At least 10 feet
- B At least 5 feet
- C At least 3 feet
- D At least 30 feet
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A. At least 10 feet
Always stay behind the painted stop line while waiting for a train. If there is no line, stay at least 10 feet from the tracks, because trains overhang the tracks by 3 feet.
About how far does an average freight train traveling 55 mph need to stop?
- A About 200 feet
- B About a quarter mile
- C About one block
- D About one mile
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D. About one mile
The average freight train at 55 mph needs about a mile to stop. Because trains are so large, they seem to move slower than they are. Never try to beat one.
What are the blue Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs at railroad crossings for?
- A Telling drivers which lane to use
- B Marking crossings where trains do not sound horns
- C Giving a phone number to report problems or emergencies at the crossing
- D Showing the train schedule
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C. Giving a phone number to report problems or emergencies at the crossing
Blue ENS signs at every public crossing give a 24/7 phone number for reporting problems or emergencies, plus a DOT crossing number so the railroad knows exactly where you are and can warn trains.