|
John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints |
What the British call level crossings, where a road and railway line cross at the same level without a bridge or tunnel and where traffic is stopped to allow trains to pass, are called grade crossings or railroad crossings in America and Canada.
The railroad crossing advance warning sign is circular with a yellow background. The foreground consists of two black diagonal lines forming an "X", with two black letter R's, one R being in the lefthand segment and the other R in the righthand segment.
As you approach the crossing the road surface may have the following markings: two parallel lines in the direction of travel, and between them two diagonal lines crossing each other, with a letter R in each of the lefthand and righthand segments.
At the actual railroad crossing there will be a large diagonal cross sign with a white background and black lettering, one arm bearing the word "Railroad" and the other arm the word "Crossing". This sign is often referred to as a "crossbuck". An additional plate may indicate the number of tracks.
There will usually also be red lights which flash, a loud bell which rings and an automatic barrier which lowers when a train is approaching or crossing. However, crossings of minor roads with infrequently used railway tracks may have none of these safety devices.
Never attempt to cross railroad tracks if signals indicate that a train is approaching, or if you see or hear a train.
Freight trains are often very long in the USA and Canada and take a long time to pass.
After one train passes, check that there isn't another train before proceeding.
Never start to cross railroad tracks unless your exit is clear.
I'm informed that trucks carrying hazardous loads and buses must come to a complete stop at most railroad crossings, and therefore you need to exercise caution when following such a vehicle. You sometimes see warning signs on the back of trucks indicating that they stop at all railroad crossings.
The Oct-98 printed edition of the Illinois Driver's Manual "Rules Of The Road" says: "Vehicles carrying people for hire, school buses carrying children and vehicles carrying hazardous material must stop at almost all railroad crossings".
The "Exempt" plate indicates a railroad crossing where the tracks are no longer in use. It presumably indicates that vehicles which normally have to stop at railroad crossings do not have to do so at this crossing. The alternative "Tracks Out Of Service" plate is sometimes used.
Driving - Road Signs, Signposts And Highway Marker Shields
Home | States/Provinces | Subjects
Most recently modified 21-Jul-02