INDIANA FIELD GUIDE
Railroad crossings.
A clear track requires a deliberate check, every time.
A crossbuck identifies a railroad crossing. On its own, treat it as a yield sign and stop for an approaching train. A crossbuck with a stop sign requires a complete stop and a check for trains before proceeding. Active bells, lights, or gates require you to stop until the warning ends or an authorized officer or railroad flagman directs you to proceed.
Never begin crossing unless there is enough room to clear the tracks without stopping. Do not drive around a lowered gate. After one train passes, look for another on any additional track. Some crossings are quiet zones, where trains may not sound their horns.
Keep these in mind.
- School buses, vehicles carrying passengers for hire, and vehicles carrying explosives or flammable liquids must stop at railroad crossings, with the manual’s abandoned-track exception.
- Do not pass another vehicle within 100 feet of a railroad crossing.
- If a vehicle stalls on the tracks, all occupants should leave it immediately.
- If you are stuck with a train approaching, evacuate away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle toward the oncoming train’s direction, then call 911 from safety. See the official manual for crossing emergency guidance.
Rules and worked examples.
Driving rules below summarize the official manual. Safety recommendations explain its practical guidance; example numbers are not additional legal requirements.
Driving rule
Know which device requires a stop
A crossbuck alone is treated as a yield sign: check for trains and stop when one approaches. A stop sign at the crossing requires a complete stop. Active bells, flashing lights, or gates require a stop until the warning ends or an authorized officer or railroad flagman directs you to proceed. Driving around a lowered gate is illegal.
Example. The gates remain down after one train passes. Stay stopped. Another train may be coming on a second track, and the warning has not ended.
Why it matters. A train’s speed can be hard to judge, and the first train may hide another.
Driving rule
Leave room beyond the tracks
Never start across unless you can clear the tracks without stopping. School buses, vehicles carrying passengers for hire, and vehicles carrying explosives or flammable liquids must stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail, with the manual’s stated abandoned-track exception.
Example. Traffic is stopped just beyond a crossing and there is not enough room for your whole car on the far side. Wait before the tracks, even if the gates are up. Expect a school bus ahead to stop at the crossing.
Why it matters. An open gate does not guarantee that there is enough space for you to leave the tracks.
Safety recommendation
If a vehicle is stuck on the tracks
Get everyone out immediately. With a train approaching, evacuate away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle toward the approaching train’s direction, then call 911 from safety. If no train is approaching, use the crossing’s blue Emergency Notification System sign to contact the railroad, then call 911.
Example. Your car stalls between the rails. Move people to safety instead of staying in the car to restart it. From a safe place, use the actual crossing’s emergency contact and location information; do not copy a sample phone number from an illustration.
Why it matters. Leaving the track area comes before protecting the vehicle. The crossing’s identifying information helps responders locate the obstruction.
Official manual: page 49