Know your Rail Signs & Signals

There are both active and passive warning devices that are widely used. Passive signs and active traffic control devices are installed along the roads near the railroad tracks to regulate, warn or guide traffic. They alert drivers to the presence of railroad tracks and to the possibility of an approaching train. These signs and devices also provide a safety message and remind the driver of the laws regarding highway-rail grade crossings. What follows is a list of various signs and devices that you will see in connection with highway-rail grade crossings.

Passive Signs IN ADVANCE of Railroad Crossings

These are non-electric signs that warn the motorist the road ahead crosses the railroad tracks.

	Yellow Circular Advance Warning sign warns drivers that the road crosses railroad tracks ahead. It reminds the driver to slow down, look and listen for a train and be prepared to stop if a train is approaching.
	Pavement Markings on paved roads near the yellow Circular Advance Warning sign also alert drivers that the road crosses railroad tracks ahead.
	A Stop Line painted across the lane on paved roads identifies the safe place to stop and look for an approaching train. On gravel roads there are no Pavement Markings or Stop Lines, and the driver must stop no closer than 15 feet. The yellow Diamond-Shaped Parallel Track sign identifies highway-rail intersections that appear immediately after making either a right or a left turn.
	The yellow Diamond-Shaped Parallel Track sign identifies highway-rail intersections that appear immediately after making either a right or a left turn.

Passive Signs AT Railroad Crossings

	The Crossbuck sign is the most common sign at public highway-rail intersections. It has two crossed white boards with the words RAILROAD CROSSING. It marks the crossing and should be considered the same as a YIELD sign. If there is more than one track, a sign below the Crossbuck indicates the number of tracks present. After one train has passed, look and listen for another train coming from either direction. Take extra care at "passive" crossings (marked only with a Crossbuck). Always expect a train!
	The STOP and YIELD signs mean the same as they do at highway intersections. A driver must always stop at the STOP sign in advance of the railroad tracks. Every driver must YIELD the right of way to a train.

NO TRESPASSING Signs

At bridges, tunnels, trestle, railroad rights-of-way, and railroad yards, you will see large NO TRESPASSING signs. This means YOU. If you attempt to ride an ATV or a snowmobile, or hike on the tracks, a bridge, or a trestle or even walk near the tracks, you can be arrested and fined. But most of all it is dangerous because you never know when a train may be approaching.

Active Devices AT Railroad Crossings

	Flashing Red Lights — with or without bells — warns of an approaching train. When the red lights are flashing, a train is approaching. Stop and wait for the train to pass, then proceed when it is clearly safe to do so.
	Flashing Red Lights — with bells and gates-are used to close the road when a train approaches. It is illegal to go around the gates. Going around the gates makes the driver legally liable for any deaths, injuries, or damage to property if a collision occurs.

Why aren't there gates at all crossings?

Some crossings have very light vehicular traffic and trains may only pass on that corridor one or two times a week. At such crossings is may not be cost effective to install and maintain gates or lights. Decisions regarding the appropriate type of warning devices are made by the state highway officials. Gates do not prevent crashes, people do. Statistics show that approximately half of all highway-rail grade crossing incidents occur where gates and flashing lights or some active warning device is present and operational.

Who is responsible for grade crossing signals?

Because the grade crossing is where two modes of transportation intersect, the railroad and the state highway-local street agencies share in the installation and maintenance of the signals. However, driver and pedestrians have the responsibility for adhering to the warnings the signals provide. Any signal ignored is as useless as no signal at all.