The Railroad Crossbuck: Treat It Like a Yield Sign for Trains
The railroad crossbuck, a white X-shaped sign reading RAILROAD CROSSING, marks the place where a road crosses train tracks. It means the same as a yield sign: slow down, look and listen both ways, and yield to any train. If a train is approaching or signals are active, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail and wait until it is safe.
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Railroad crossing quiz: 3 test-style questions
- When a train is approaching a crossing, you must stop: Right next to the tracks / No closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail / At least 100 feet away / Only if the gates are down. Answer: No closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail. State laws based on the Uniform Vehicle Code set the stopping point between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail.
- The lights are flashing at a crossing but the gates are up and you see no train. You should: Cross quickly before the gates come down / Stop and wait until the lights stop flashing / Drive around the gate arms / Honk and cross slowly. Answer: Stop and wait until the lights stop flashing. Flashing red lights mean stop, even without gates. Wait until they stop and you are sure no train is coming.
- Your car stalls on the tracks and a train is coming. You should: Try to restart the engine / Stay in the car with your seat belt on / Push the car off the tracks / Get everyone out and move away from the tracks toward the train, at an angle. Answer: Get everyone out and move away from the tracks toward the train, at an angle. Leave the vehicle immediately and walk away from the tracks at an angle toward the approaching train, so debris from the impact does not hit you. Then call the number on the blue emergency sign or 911.
What the crossbuck means
The crossbuck (MUTCD R15-1) is a regulatory sign made of two white blades crossed in an X, reading RAILROAD and CROSSING. Legally, it is equivalent to a yield sign: you must slow down, look and listen, and yield the right-of-way to any train. If the crossing has two or more tracks, a plaque below states the number of tracks.
Many crossings combine the crossbuck with a YIELD or STOP sign on the same post; with a STOP sign, every vehicle must stop even if no train is in sight. Active crossings add flashing red lights, a bell and often gates. A train always has the right-of-way: it cannot swerve, and a freight train may need a mile or more to stop.
What to do at a railroad crossing
- Slow down, turn down the radio and look and listen in both directions.
- Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail when lights flash, gates are lowered, a flagger signals, or a train is visible or audible nearby.
- Wait until the train has passed and the lights stop, then check for a second train on another track before you go.
- Cross only if there is room on the other side for your whole vehicle; never stop on the tracks in traffic.
- Never drive around lowered gates, and do not shift gears while crossing.
Common mistakes and test traps
- Second train. After one train passes, another may be coming on the next track, hidden behind the first.
- Trains look slower than they are. Their size makes them seem slow and far away; never try to beat one.
- Vehicles that always stop. School buses, buses carrying passengers and trucks carrying certain hazardous materials must stop at every crossing; do not follow them too closely.
- Stuck on the tracks. Get out, move away at an angle toward the train, then call the number on the blue Emergency Notification sign posted at the crossing, or 911.
- Round yellow sign. The advance warning sign comes before the crossing; the crossbuck is at the tracks.
Where you see it
Crossbucks stand at every public highway-rail grade crossing, on the right side of the road on each approach, sometimes on both sides. You see them on rural roads with no lights (passive crossings), on busy streets with lights and gates, and at light-rail crossings. White X-shaped markings, the letters RXR and a stop line are often painted on the pavement before the crossing.
Related signs to know
Study the railroad advance warning sign, the yield sign and the stop sign. Commercial drivers have extra crossing rules in the CDL general knowledge guide; all sign families are in the road signs guide.
Railroad crossbuck FAQ
What does a railroad crossbuck mean?
It marks a railroad crossing and has the same meaning as a yield sign: slow down, look and listen, and yield to any train.
How far from the tracks should you stop?
Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail, when a train is approaching or the crossing signals are active.
What is the blue sign at railroad crossings?
It is the Emergency Notification System sign, with a phone number and a crossing ID. Call it to report a stalled vehicle, a malfunction or another problem at that crossing.
Can I go around railroad gates if no train is visible?
No. Driving around or under lowered gates is illegal and extremely dangerous. Wait until the gates are fully up and the lights have stopped.
Who must stop at all railroad crossings?
School buses, buses carrying passengers and vehicles carrying certain hazardous materials must stop at every crossing, even with no train in sight.
Official sources
- FHWA — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
- FMCSA — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (commercial drivers)
- NHTSA — School bus safety
Keep studying
- Railroad advance warning sign
- Yield sign
- Stop sign
- CDL general knowledge test
- All US road signs
- Practice tests by topic