The aim of this lesson is to legally and safely approach and cross different kinds of railway level crossings. You’ll need to find a road with either a crossing controlled by a Stop or Give Way sign, controlled by barrier arms and/or signals, or uncontrolled (no barrier arms, signals, Stop sign or Give Way sign).
Driver actions
At a crossing controlled by a Stop sign or Give Way sign:
- Check all mirrors as you approach the crossing
- Look left and right along the railway line
- If there’s a Stop sign, you must stop.
- If there’s a Give Way sign, slow down and be ready to stop
- Don’t try to beat an oncoming train. If you have to stop because there is a train or maintenance vehicle approaching or passing through the crossing, stop before the limit line, or five metres before the crossing if there isn’t a limit line
- When it’s safe to go, drive over the railway crossing.
At a crossing controlled by barrier arms and/or signals:
- Check all mirrors as you approach the crossing
- If the signals are flashing but the barrier arms are still up, you must come to a stop. If the barrier arms are down you must stop, too. Stop before the limit line, or at least five metres before the crossing if there’s no limit line.
- Stay where you are until the barriers have lifted and the signals have stopped flashing. If the signals continue to flash after a train has passed it might be because another train is coming through, so don’t anticipate when you can go.
- When the signal has stopped, check to the left and right up the line and if it’s safe to go, drive over the railway crossing.
At a crossing that is uncontrolled:
- Treat this crossing as you would with a crossing controlled by a Give Way sign.
Perform the tasks three times.
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