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

rail crossing gaurded crossing Rail crossing with gates and lights
rail crossing barriers combo A: Half Barrier B: Full Barrier

Distance signs before crossing

a38 3 Distance 1 (Closest distance)
a38 2 Distance 2 (Middle distance)
a38 1 Distance 3 (Farthest distance)

No Gates or lights Crossing

rail sign rail crossing 1 Rail crossing (No Gates, No lights)

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

Traffic signals

traffic light Traffic Signal You are permitted to overtake with this traffic light
y1 1 Traffic Signal (Y1) You are not permitted to overtake with this traffic light