Trains move fast and railroad crossings can be risky for you if you are not alert. That is why railroad crossing signs are installed to warn you. But, do you really know what railroad signs mean & what you should do when you see them?
In today’s guide, you will learn railroad crossing sign meaning and several types. We will also explain their shapes and colors.
What Does a Railroad Crossing Sign Mean
A railroad crossing sign is a traffic control device which tells you that a train track may be ahead of you on the highway. Whenever you see this sign around your location, It means you are close to tracks used by high-speed trains.
Hence, you need to be extra careful. You should slow down your vehicle and need to look both sides. If you notice a train is on the way at a railway track, you have to stop your car and wait until the rail passes.
Stop Railroad Crossing
You will see these signs where it may be hard for you to see a train on track from a far distance. Therefore, they are placed in such places to give you time, so that you can think and take action. When you see the “Stop Railroad Crossing” sign, you should completely stop your vehicle before you cross the track.
Railroad Crossing Yield Sign
Railroad crossing yield signs are installed where your track view is clear but you don’t always need to stop. For example: at quiet roads, country areas and places with fewer trains. Well, they also tell you to stop and be ready to stop if needed. That is why, when you see these signs, you should always yield and check for other trains at railroad lines.
No Train Horn Sign
No train horn signs let you know that trains will not sound their horns when crossing. If you see this sign, it’s a caution for you to be extra careful. Because you will not hear any horn and you need to reduce your car speed and check for any train.
You will also see these signs near quiet zones such as near homes, schools and hospitals. They help reduce noise in such areas, but it’s still your responsibility to stay alert all the time.
Crossbucks Sign: Crossbuck Railroad Sign
This type of railroad sign is generally placed where train tracks cross your current road. So when you see this X-shaped sign, you need to reduce your vehicle speed and check for any train ahead. You always need to look at both sides, listen to the train horn and be prepared to stop as well. Because, trains may enter on track at any time.
Exempt Railroad Crossing
It says that you don’t need to stop your particular vehicles at the railroad crossing. The reason is that the tracks are not used regularly and it’s no longer active. So, when you see the word “EXEMPT” on a railroad sign, you have no need to stop your school buses and trucks. However, you should stay alert & follow rules for your own safety.
Rail Tunnel Sign
The rail tunnel sign shows you areas where trains pass through underground tunnels. For example: you will see it near hills, mountains and under city roads. These tunnels can be narrow and dark, which means you have to provide a clear path for trains. Always remember to stay active around such places because rail may appear suddenly.
Railroad Whistle Sign
Railroad whistle signs are placed to warn you that a train driver will blow rail horn near a crossing. Hence, you should pay extra attention when you see this sign. So that you can hear the train whistle clearly and respond in time. Generally, you will see them before railway crossings, busy roads & near zones that you can see properly.
Look for Trains Sign
When you drive near railroad tracks and you see a “Look for Trains” sign, it means you must observe carefully for any trains on line. For such a purpose, you have to slow down your car and check your both directions before you move forward. Additionally, you will see these signs where there are no lights & gates near the railway track.
Do Not Stop on Tracks Sign
Railroad authorities place these signs to provide you clear cut warning that you should not stop your vehicle on the railroad tracks. For example: in situations when you are waiting for traffic, a red light & stuck in a traffic jam. These signs also indicate to you that danger is possible around such zones. Therefore, you have to carry on driving your automobiles and should never block railway lines.
Railroad Advance Warning Sign
Railroad advance warning Sign tells you that train tracks ahead to you. You will notice a yellow background with a big black “X” and the letters “RR” on these signs. Plus, they are placed before the actual tracks to warn you in advance. So that, you can reduce your vehicle speed and be ready to stop.
What Does a Railroad Crossing Sign Look Like?
You can identify a railroad crossing sign by its big white X shape, which is called a crossbuck. You can see the words “RAILROAD” on one side and “CROSSING” on the other side of signage.
Further, this sign is a standard design used all across the United States and is part of official traffic safety rules too. However, you will also observe that many railroad crossings have flashing red lights & warning bells. All of these work together, so you can stay safe around railway tracks.
A Full Stop is Required At a Railroad Crossing When?
You have to fully stop your vehicles at a railroad crossing whenever you see a stop sign and flashing red lights. Plus, you also need to stop when you see the railroad gate is down to block the road. Moreover, If you see that train is on the track, you should stop and wait until it fully passes.
Sometimes, a person called a flagger will tell you to stop and you have to respond. In case, if you don’t spot any railroad sign near the train track, you still need to stop. You should check for rail on track and then you can move your vehicles carefully to avoid any danger. Following are some other situations when you have to stop at railroad crossing.
- When you see a train but lights & gates are not functional.
- If there are heavy traffic jams and you do not have enough space to cross track.
- You should stop your car when railroad workers tell you to stop.
- If you can’t see the train track clearly because of fog, darkness & if something is blocking your view then you can stop.
- You are required to stop when you drive heavy and slow vehicles which take more time to cross safely.
2 Main Types of Railroad Crossing Signs
It’s important for you to learn about two major types of railroad crossing signs, so that you can quickly identify them anywhere and respond accordingly.
Active Railroad Crossing
Active railroad crossing signs are special tools to warn you when a train is on track ahead. These tools include: flashing red lights, warning sounds such as bells and railroad gates. Controlled railroad crossing signs are also a type of active railroad signage.
They all work together to tell you exactly what you should do and where you can stop. So, whenever you see a railroad sign with lights, sounds & gates, it means the crossing is active.
Mixed Signs: In some places, you may see more than one sign (active & passive) together. For example, a big X sign and flashing lights at the same time are placed along a sign to provide you extra protection.
Flashing Lights: When the train is present on track, flash lights start blinking. So, when you see them, you have to stop and wait until the train passes.
Automatic Gates: To stop your car to cross track, these gates are placed which work through the sensor system. They work with railroad signs & bells to warn you.
Passive Railroad Crossing
If we talk about passive railroad crossing (Uncontrolled Railroad Crossing Sign), it does not have any active warning system. Once these signs are installed, they don’t make any move or noise to warn you.
For example: you may see a sign which has a yellow circle with “RR” that is installed to tell you about possible dangers about train tracks. But, you will spot no active lights & gates with it. Following are some types of passive railroad crossing signs.
- Private Railroad Crossing Signs
- Crossbuck Signs
- Pavement Markings
- Advance Warning Signs
What Vehicles Must Stop At All Railroad Crossings?
Well, you should stop your vehicle at railroad crossings. But, there are some specific types of vehicles that you have to stop because it’s a law that is strictly enforced.
School Buses: You have to stop school buses at every railroad crossings, because you are carrying children and you have to make sure their safety. You can move after you wait for 5 to 10 seconds, only if you see the train track is clear.
Passenger Buses: If your bus has passengers you need to stop your bus (even if there are no lights & gate). You should check your both directions and drive forward after 5 seconds.
Fuel Tankers: If your tanker is loaded with flammable liquids, you should stop at railroad crossing to minimize the risk of explosions.
Vehicles with Dangerous Materials: Harmful chemicals & gases can cause serious damage and poison in air if you don’t stop your vehicle and a train hits your vehicle.
Trucks with Toxic Cargo: You must stop your truck at railroad crossings if your truck has hazardous cargo.
What Color and Shape is a Railroad Crossing Warning Sign
You will find railroad crossing signs in yellow color and round shape with a black “X” and the letters “RR” on signs. The color and shape of this sign are standardized by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). According to this law, you can only use yellow which means caution. You should install round shaped railroad signs because this is the only shape you can use for this type of warning sign.
Is a Railroad Crossing Sign a Regulatory Sign
Not exactly, a railroad crossing sign is not a regulatory sign. It is a warning sign that is used to inform you about train tracks ahead. It tells you there are train tracks on the road and you should stop. You may see some indications at crossings such as stop signs & gates, these are regulatory in nature. But the main crossbuck/yellow round sign is used to warn you, not to tell you what to do by law.
Other than yellow, you will also think about the white railroad crossing sign meaning. Actually it has the same interpretation as well.
Railroad Crossing Sign with Lights
You might observe railroad signs with lights near train tracks. These lights are installed with signs and it starts blinking when the train gets close to you. As a responsible driver, you should stop your vehicle as soon as you see these lights flashing. You will generally spot these types of signs on busy roads. So, you should wait until the lights stop blinking.
Railroad Crossing Pavement Markings
Railroad crossing pavement markings are placed before the railroad tracks. These lines are painted on the road surface to tell you that train tracks are ahead and shows you where you can stop to stay behind the line. Additionally, these markings are part of the official traffic control system and follow the standards set by MUTCD. Below are standard markings you will see:
- You will generally notice a large white “X” symbol.
- There are letters “R R” on both sides of the X.
- A stop line to show where you should stop your vehicle.
Railroad Crossing Sign Dimensions
Railroad crossing signs are designed to be big, so when you drive, you can see them easily. These signs have standard dimensions such as they are about 48 inches wide and 9 inches high. That means it’s approximately 4 feet wide. You will see letters on the signs that are large. Hence you can read them from far away.
If we talk about its height, they are placed around 7 feet above from ground to the bottom. However, you will also find some other railroad signs such as yellow circles with “X” and “RR”, these signs have a dimension as 30 x 30 inch or 36 wide & 36 tall.
Conclusion
In the end, we hope now you have clear information about the meaning of railroad crossing signs and why they are important for your safety. You can see how RR crossing sign protects you from serious accidents when you follow them properly.
If you are looking for high quality & custom railroad crossing signs, Jackwin is your perfect business partner. Contact us now for a quick quote and get reliable road safety solutions.
FAQs
How Many Feet Should You Stop Before a Railroad Crossing?
You have to stop your vehicle at least 15 feet before the railroad crossing. However, you don’t need to stop more than 50 feet away from the tracks.
What Distance Must You Park From a Railroad Track?
When you park your vehicle, you need to keep a distance of at least 50 feet away from the railroad tracks. This distance helps you and the train operator to see the track clearly to avoid any crashes and pass safely.
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