Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Tips for Drivers

The following tips are used with permission from the pamphlet, Working Together For Safety, published by Operation Lifesaver, Inc., Alexandria, VA.

General Precautions for All Drivers

Expect a train at any time on any track! Be certain you can stop safely if a train is approaching.
Do not rely on the train whistle to warn you! In-cab noise may mask the train's warning.
Do not attempt to cross the tracks unless you are certain the vehicle you are driving will clear on the other side. Never shift gears while crossing railroad tracks.
Be cautious for obstructions that may block the view of an approaching train, such as: vegetation, buildings, standing railcars, etc.
Be alert to the effects of weather on conditions at the crossings-,for example, impaired vision and difficulty stopping.
When possible, plan your trip to use grade separations where available crossings are equipped with flashing light warning devices or flashing lights and gates.
Look up and down the tracks. It is difficult to judge the distance and approach speed of a train as it moves toward the crossing. If in doubt, be safe. Stop, and wait.
Slow down and be prepared to stop at the first railroad warning sign.

You may have seen newspaper headlines like these:

Were these "accidents"? Far from it! They were tragedies that could easily have been prevented. How?

By complying with the Federal Safety Regulations and just plain common sense. The regulations require that trucks hauling hazardous materials must stop completely at all railroad crossings.
Common sense dictates that a driver approach railroad crossings slowly enough to be able to stop if necessary.
Common sense should tell you that trucks with low ground clearances can get hung up on high-profile grade crossings. Plan your route to avoid that possibility. The few minutes these precautions will cost you are worth the time you'll gain to make another delivery another day. Additional educational materials to improve truck driver performance at highway-rail grade crossings are available from Operation Lifesaver, 800.537.6224.