Minnesota permit test: railroad crossings
Crossing signs and signals, when to stop and what to do if stuck. 4 questions.
Lights are flashing at a railroad crossing. How far from the nearest rail or gate must you stop?
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
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Lights are flashing at a railroad crossing. How far from the nearest rail or gate must you stop?
- A At least 10 feet
- B At least 20 feet
- C At least 5 feet
- D At least 50 feet
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A. At least 10 feet
When railroad lights or gates are active, stop at least 10 feet from the nearest rail or gate. Cross only when you can get at least 10 feet past the rails without stopping.
A bus ahead of you is stopping at a railroad crossing even though no train is coming. What should you do?
- A Honk to tell the driver no train is coming
- B Pass it, since no train is coming
- C Pass it on the right
- D Stay behind it; passing near the crossing is illegal
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D. Stay behind it; passing near the crossing is illegal
Buses, passenger vans and larger trucks must stop at all crossings. Do not pass them: it is illegal to pass any vehicle within 100 feet of a railroad crossing.
Your car stalls on the tracks and a train is coming. After leaving the car, which way should you go?
- A Away from the tracks at an angle toward the oncoming train
- B Away at an angle in the direction the train is heading
- C Straight down the tracks away from the train
- D Stay near the car to warn the train
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A. Away from the tracks at an angle toward the oncoming train
Get out right away and walk quickly away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle toward the direction the train is coming from. That keeps you clear of debris thrown forward in the crash.
What is the blue Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign at a railroad crossing for?
- A Marking a crossing where trucks need not stop
- B Giving train arrival times
- C Showing the number of tracks
- D Calling to report a problem or vehicle stuck on the tracks
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D. Calling to report a problem or vehicle stuck on the tracks
Every crossing has a blue ENS sign with a 24/7 number. Calling it lets the railroad identify the exact crossing and warn trains to stop or slow.