Page 34 - Georgia Commercial Drivers Manual 2020
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2SECTION : DRIVING SAFETY
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE flashing red lights and bells. When the lights be-
gin to flash, stop! A train is approaching. You are
Subsections 2.11, 2.12, 2.13 and 2.14 required to yield the right-of-way to the train.
If there is more than one track, make sure all
• You should use low beams whenever you • You should let air out of hot tires so the tracks are clear before crossing. See Figure 2.18.
can. True or False? pressure goes back to normal. True or Gates. Many railroad-highway crossings
False? have gates with flashing red lights and bells.
• What should you do before you drive if Stop when the lights begin to flash and before
you are drowsy? • You can safely remove the radiator cap as the gate lowers across the road lane. Remain
long as the engine isn’t overheated. True stopped until the gates go up and the lights
• What effects can wet brakes cause? How or False? have stopped flashing. Proceed when it is safe.
can you avoid these problems? See Figure 2.18.
These questions may be on the test. If you can’t answer all of them, re-read subsections 2.15.3 – Driving Procedures
2.11, 2.12, 2.13, and 2.14 Never Race a Train to a Crossing. Never at-
tempt to race a train to a crossing. It is extremely
2.14.2 – Driving Active Crossings. This type of crossing has difficult to judge the speed of an approaching
Watch for Bleeding Tar. Tar in the road pave- a traffic control device installed at the cross- train.
ment frequently rises to the surface in very hot ing to regulate traffic at the crossing. These ac- Reduce Speed. Speed must be reduced in ac-
weather. Spots where tar “bleeds” to the surface tive devices include flashing red lights, with cordance with your ability to see approaching
are very slippery. or without bells and flashing red lights with trains in any direction, and speed must be held
Go Slowly Enough to Prevent Overheating. bells and gates. to a point which will permit you to stop short of
High speeds create more heat for tires and the the tracks in case a stop is necessary.
engine. In desert conditions the heat may build 2.15.2 – Warning Signs and Devices Don’t Expect to Hear a Train. Because of
up to the point where it is dangerous. The heat Advance Warning Signs. The round, black- noise inside your vehicle, you cannot expect to
will increase chances of tire failure or even fire, on-yellow warning sign is placed ahead of a hear the train horn until the train is dangerously
and engine failure. public railroad-highway crossing. The advance close to the crossing.
warning sign tells you to slow down, look and Don’t Rely on Signals. You should not rely
2.15 – R ailroad-highway listen for the train, and be prepared to stop at solely upon the presence of warning signals,
Crossings the tracks if a train is coming. See Figure 2.15. gates, or flagmen to warn of the approach of
Pavement Markings. Pavement markings trains. Be especially alert at crossings that do not
Railroad-highway grade crossings are a spe- mean the same as the advance warning sign. have gates or flashing red light signals.
cial kind of intersection where the roadway They consist of an “X” with the letters “”RR” Double Tracks Require a Double Check.
crosses train tracks. These crossings are always and a no-passing marking on two-lane roads. Remember that a train on one track may hide a
dangerous. Every such crossing must be ap- See Figure 2.16. train on the other track. Look both ways before
proached with the expectation that a train is crossing. After one train has cleared a crossing,
coming. There is also a no passing zone sign on two- be sure no other trains are near before starting
lane roads. There may be a white stop line across the tracks.
2.15.1 – Types of Crossings painted on the pavement before the railroad Yard Areas and Grade Crossings in Cities
Passive Crossings. This type of crossing does tracks. The front of the school bus must remain and Towns. Yard areas and grade crossings
not have any type of traffic control device. The behind this line while stopped at the crossing. in cities and towns are just as dangerous as
decision to stop or proceed rests entirely in your Crossbuck Signs. This sign marks the grade rural grade crossings. Approach them with as
hands. Passive crossings require you to recog- crossing. It requires you to yield the right-of-way much caution.
nize the crossing, search for any train using to the train. If there is no white line painted on
the tracks and decide if there is sufficient clear the pavement, you must stop the bus before the 2.15.4 – Stopping Safely at Railroad-
space to cross safely. Passive crossings have crossbuck sign. When the road crosses over more highway Crossings
yellow circular advance warning signs, pave- than one set of tracks, a sign below the crossbuck
ment markings and crossbucks to assist you in indicates the number of tracks. See Figure 2.17. A full stop is required at grade crossings
recognizing a crossing. Flashing Red Light Signals. At many high- whenever:
way-rail grade crossings, the crossbuck sign has
ROUND YELLOW PAVEMENT MARKINGS MULTIPLE TRACKS GATES/LIGHTS
WARNING SIGN
Figure 2.15 Figure 2.16 Figure 2.17 Figure 2.18
32 2019-2020 GEORGIA COMMERCIAL DRIVERS MANUAL
