Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Use caution at railway crossings
Many near misses and actual collisions occur at railway crossings.
“Most crossings don’t have electronic warning devices, so safety is the driver’s responsibility,” says Lou Gervino, Driver Education Manager at Manitoba Public Insurance. “Drivers often misjudge the speed of approaching trains, or think – incorrectly – that trains have to slow for crossings.”
If you’re unsure about the rules around railway crossings, The Driver’s Handbook, available online at www.mpi.mb.ca in the Driver Licensing section, spells them out clearly and should be followed.
The following tips can also help.
Be alert and prepared to stop
Slow down. Look both ways. Never try to race a train to a crossing, and remember that trains always have the right of way.
Be especially vigilant at night
Many collisions happen after dark, and involve vehicles running into trains which aren’t well-lighted from the side.
Wait until there’s enough room to cross
It is against the law to start across tracks when there isn’t sufficient space on the other side for your vehicle to leave the tracks unobstructed.
Know how to spot multiple tracks
Railway crossing signs where there is more than one set of tracks have a small square sign under the crossbuck with a number indicating the number of tracks. At multiple track crossings, a driver should never start across when a train has passed on the nearest track without making sure there isn’t a train coming down the other track.
For more information, watch
The 60-Second Driver on CTV, or visit the following sections on this website:
- Rail Crossing Safety in Driving Tips
- You can access the 60-Second Driver video on Rail Crossing Safety directly
