Many people seem to think that trains don’t exist anymore so railroad crossings are just there and are of no importance to them. While it can be very rare to come across a train while driving, there still is a very good chance and it is always better to be prepared and know how to handle the situation then be a victim of a deadly collision. From the Driver’s Handbook provided by Utah we can learn how to deal with railroad crossings. General rules for railroad include, always slow down, don’t park closer than 50 feet from the crossing and make sure you turn down your radio so that you can listen for the horn of a train. There are also signs that will warn you of a railroad or when a train is coming. Sometimes there are the letter “RR” painted …show more content…
Some crossbucks also have gates on the bottom of them that will flash and come down when a train is approaching. Even if you are in a hurry never cross the railroad until the gate has come up all the way and most importantly never try to drive around the gate. There are also some safety tips that will be extremely helpful to remember when the situation arises. Never misjudge the speed and distance of a train, watch for second trains, don’t ever try to race a train, do not get trapped on a railroad crossing, and if your vehicle happens to stall on a crossing immediately get all passengers and yourself out of the car and run toward the train at an angle away from it and notify local authorities if possible. Running towards the train will keep you safe from debris. If you think there is no train coming wait and look around before going back to the car to get it out of the way. At night there are a couple of things you need to know as well. Such as, never assume there is no train because you do not see any lights, if your view of the railroad is blocked be more cautionate than you would in the light, and be sure to stop within the distance from the light on your