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Railroad Crossing Importance

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Railroads are a very serious issue when driving, but commonly ignored. Many know that railroads are dangerous, but they only consider railroads dangerous if you are caught in the middle of one with a train coming towards you. It is dangerous to be in a situation where you are stuck in the middle of a railroad with a train bolting towards you, but there are ways to avoid this life threatening situation. Signs are a very important part to be safe when crossings are presented. Coming to a railroad crossing is not a sudden ‘surprise’, there are signs posted to indicate the crossing, usually there is a yellow, circular sign with a black X painted on the inside with two letter ‘Rs’ on the left and right side of the X. This is a warning sign to let the driver know that there is a railroad crossing ahead. …show more content…

Once the gate is down, the driver must wait and remain stopped until the gates are raised and the lights have stopped flashing. Pavement markings are also made to help the driver know where they should stop, this helps the driver maintain a safe distance from a crossing when there are no gates available. Having patience is a big factor when it comes to railroad safety. Even though there are signs, gates, flashing red lights, and loud bells to help you prevent an accident, it does not always guarantee safety. Being safe and avoiding life threatening situations depend on the thinking and decision making of the driver. Warnings may help others, but if a driver is too irresponsible and makes bad decisions, those signs don’t even matter. Many accidents occur due to careless drivers who have little patience and try to rush through gates or try to race the train to get to the other

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