Page 32 - 2021-2022 Commercial Drivers Manual

SECTION 2 : DRIVING SAFETY

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE flashing red lights and bells. When the lights be-
gin to flash, stop! A train is approaching. You are
required to yield the right-of-way to the train.
Subsections 2.11, 2.12, 2.13 and 2.14 If there is more than one track, make sure all
tracks are clear before crossing. See Figure 2.18.
• You should use low beams whenever you • You should let air out of hot tires so the
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
• What effects can wet brakes cause? How stopped until the gates go up and the lights
can you avoid these problems? or False? have stopped flashing. Proceed when it is safe.
See Figure 2.18.
These questions may be on the test. If you can’t answer all of them, re-read subsections
2.11, 2.12, 2.13, and 2.14
2.15.3 – Driving Procedures
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
a traffic control device installed at the cross- train.
Watch for Bleeding Tar. Tar in the road pave- ing to regulate traffic at the crossing. These ac- Reduce Speed. Speed must be reduced in ac-
ment frequently rises to the surface in very hot tive devices include flashing red lights, with cordance with your ability to see approaching

weather. Spots where tar “bleeds” to the surface or without bells and flashing red lights with trains in any direction, and speed must be held

are very slippery.
bells and gates. to a point which will permit you to stop short of
Go Slowly Enough to Prevent Overheating. the tracks in case a stop is necessary.
High speeds create more heat for tires and the 2.15.2 – Warning Signs and Devices

engine. In desert conditions the heat may build 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
listen for the train, and be prepared to stop at

2.15 – Railroad-highway the tracks if a train is coming. See Figure 2.15. solely upon the presence of warning signals,
Crossings gates, or flagmen to warn of the approach of
Pavement Markings. Pavement markings trains. Be especially alert at crossings that do not

mean the same as the advance warning sign. have gates or flashing red light signals.
Railroad-highway grade crossings are a spe- They consist of an “X” with the letters “”RR”
cial kind of intersection where the roadway and a no-passing marking on two-lane roads. Double Tracks Require a Double Check.
crosses train tracks. These crossings are always See Figure 2.16. Remember that a train on one track may hide a
dangerous. Every such crossing must be ap- There is also a no passing zone sign on two- train on the other track. Look both ways before
proached with the expectation that a train is lane roads. There may be a white stop line crossing. After one train has cleared a crossing,
coming. be sure no other trains are near before starting
painted on the pavement before the railroad across the tracks.
2.15.1 – Types of Crossings tracks. The front of the school bus must remain
behind this line while stopped at the crossing. Yard Areas and Grade Crossings in Cities
Passive Crossings. This type of crossing does and Towns. Yard areas and grade crossings
not have any type of traffic control device. The Crossbuck Signs. This sign marks the grade in cities and towns are just as dangerous as
decision to stop or proceed rests entirely in your crossing. It requires you to yield the right-of-way rural grade crossings. Approach them with as
hands. Passive crossings require you to recog- to the train. If there is no white line painted on much caution.
nize the crossing, search for any train using the pavement, you must stop the bus before the

the tracks and decide if there is sufficient clear crossbuck sign. When the road crosses over more 2.15.4 – Stopping Safely at Railroad-
space to cross safely. Passive crossings have than one set of tracks, a sign below the crossbuck highway Crossings
yellow circular advance warning signs, pave- indicates the number of tracks. See Figure 2.17.

ment markings and crossbucks to assist you in Flashing Red Light Signals. At many high- A full stop is required at grade crossings
recognizing a crossing. way-rail grade crossings, the crossbuck sign has whenever:
ROUND YELLOW
R O U N D Y E L L O W P A V EM EN T M A R K IN GS M U L TI P L E TR A C K S GATES/LIGHTS
I
GA
GH
S
E
T
T
S
MULTIPLE TRACKS
/
L
PAVEMENT MARKINGS
W A R NI N G S I G N
WARNING SIGN
ur
e
2
Figure 2.15 Figure 2.16 Figure 2.17 Figure 2.18
F
ig
5
1
.
Figure 2.18
Figure 2.17
Figure 2.16
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