Overview
There will come a time that you will have to cross a railway crossing. This is a particularly dangerous intersection as train go at much faster speed and also train cant swerve or stop as quickly as cars can. Due to the weight and mass of a train, it has the potential to totally crush a vehicle or throw it to the side.
The different types of railway crossings
Gates & Lights Crossing
Distance signs before crossing
No Gates or lights Crossing
How to cross a rail crossing safely
Depending on your visibility you need to adapt your approach
- Good visibility:
- Look both directions
- Approach the rail track and slow down slightly
- Switch to a higher gear (2nd or 3rd), this will ensure the car does not stall when crossing the crossing
- Quickly cross the rail track
- Limited visibility:
- Look both directions
- Approach the rail track and slow down
- Switch to a higher gear (1st or 2nd), this will ensure the car does not stall when crossing the crossing
- Quickly cross the rail track
- Poor visiblity:
- Look both directions
- Stop at the rail track and
- Open the window and listen if you can hear a train approaching
- Switch to (1st) gear, this will ensure the car does not stall when crossing the crossing
- Quickly cross the rail track
What to do if your car stalls on the track
In the case that your car stalls on the track you can do the following
- Manual transmission: If its a manual transmission vehicle you can start the engine again and try to drive on. If the engine does not want to start, you can then put the car in 1st gear and turn the ignition all the way to the right. This will allow the starter motor to pull the car forward
- Automatic transmission: If you are in a automatic transmission car you need to put the car in neutral and push the car across the rail track
- Vehicle is properly stuck: Phone 112 and inform them of the situation
Overtaking another vehicle at a railway crossing
You are not permitted to overtake another vehicle at a railway crossing. Exception: You can overtake if one of the following exist
- Gates
- Traffic lights exist
Table indicating when you can overtake
Gates | Traffic lights | Permitted to overtake |
---|---|---|
Yes | Yes | All vehicles |
Yes | No | All vehicles |
No | Yes | All vehicles |
No | No | Two-wheeled vehicles |