The red lights at a railway crossing start flashing as you approach. What must you do?
Nova Scotia Class 7 overview
Nova Scotia Class 7: Railway crossings
The crossbuck and advance railway warning sign, flashing lights and gates, vehicles that must stop at crossings, what to do if you are stuck on the tracks, and parking near a crossing.
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- Every answer explained
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- 13 questions
- Topic drill
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Study reference: Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook (2017 revision), Ch. 3 Signs, Pavement Markings and Work Zones — Railway crossings
All 13 questions in this test
Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.
The red lights at a railway crossing start flashing as you approach. What must you do?
- Speed up to cross before the train
- Stop only if you can see a train
- Stop and go only when it is safe
- Slow down and cross with care
What is the maximum speed when you are within 30 metres of a railway crossing?
- 70 km/h
- 50 km/h
- 60 km/h
- 30 km/h
You see this yellow sign on a country road. What does it tell you?
- A one-lane road crosses ahead
- A bridge with a steel grated deck is coming up ahead
- A railway crossing is ahead, at the angle shown
- A side road joins at an angle
The crossing gates begin to lower as you approach the tracks. Where do you stop?
- Before the gate on your side of the road
- Beside the gate, so you can see
- Just past the first set of rails, then wait
- Wherever you can stop quickly
Traffic ahead of you is backed up past the far side of a railway crossing. What should you do?
- Move onto the tracks and wait
- Wait until there is room to clear the tracks
- Cross and stop between the rails
- Drive onto the shoulder to get around the line
Why must you never try to beat a train to a crossing?
- Trains always have a whistle
- Some trains need over a kilometre to stop
- Trains are required to slow down at crossings
- The gate will trap your car
How close to the nearest rail of a railway crossing may you park?
- No closer than 30 metres
- No closer than 5 metres
- No closer than 10 metres
- No closer than 15 metres
You are following a vehicle with a hazardous materials placard toward a railway crossing. What should you expect?
- It will pull onto the shoulder
- It must use a different route
- It may stop at the crossing
- It will speed up to cross
You are already on the tracks when the warning lights start flashing. What should you do?
- Stop where you are and wait
- Stop and back up off the tracks
- Get out and leave the vehicle
- Keep moving and clear the crossing
What does a small sign mounted below a railway crossbuck tell you?
- The distance to the next crossing
- There is more than one set of tracks
- The train speed limit
- The number of trains per day
A long train has just cleared the crossing and the road looks open. What should you do before going?
- Check that no second train is coming
- Wait exactly one minute, then go
- Sound your horn and go
- Go right away while the gates rise
Your car stalls on the tracks. What is the first thing to do?
- Push the car off the tracks before anyone gets out
- Try to restart the engine
- Get everyone out and well away from the tracks
- Call the railway company
What does the railway crossbuck sign used in Nova Scotia look like?
- White X with a red reflective border
- Round yellow sign with an X
- Yellow X with black lettering
- Red X with a white border
Railway crossings: key rules to remember
Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗
Railway crossings
- Crossings are marked with a crossbuck: white background, red reflective border. It replaced the older crossbuck lettered "Railway Crossing" in black.
- A yellow-and-black warning sign comes before the crossing; it shows the direction or angle at which the tracks cross the road.
- A smaller sign below the crossbuck shows when there is more than one set of tracks.
- Approaching: look both ways and listen; you may have to stop. Trains can come at any time.
- If there is a stop sign at the crossing, come to a full stop before crossing.
- Many crossings have flashing red lights, or lights with gates. If the signal activates, stop before the gates come down on your side. Do not go through when gates are down.
- Flashing red lights with a crossbuck: stop as for any flashing red signal; go only when safe.
- Be patient waiting for a train. After it passes, do not move at once — check for a second train.
- Be ready to stop behind vehicles that must stop at crossings: school buses, vehicles carrying passengers for hire, vehicles carrying explosives or hazardous materials (these have placards).
Railway crossings (continued)
- If lights start flashing or gates start lowering while you are already crossing: keep moving, do not stop. Signals give enough time to clear before the train arrives; the far gate will not block you in. Stopping and backing up can stall the vehicle.
- Gates will not trap you, but stopped traffic can: be sure traffic ahead will not leave you stopped on the tracks.
- Slow down, stay alert and watch for the signal as you approach.
- Stalled or blocked on the tracks: get everyone out and well away from tracks and vehicle at once; post a lookout in each direction; only if no train is in sight, try to push the vehicle clear or restart it.
- Some trains need more than a kilometre to stop.
Related rules elsewhere in Ch. 2
- p. 51: maximum 50 km/h when approaching within 30 metres of a railway crossing.
- p. 59: passing at railway crossings is always unsafe and usually illegal.
- p. 61: no stopping or parking within 15 metres of the nearest rail of a railway crossing.
Other topics
- Regulatory signsStop, yield and school zone signs, green-circle and red-slash signs, turn, passing, parking and stopping restrictions, one-way, keep-right, speed limit and accessible parking signs.
- Warning and guide signsYellow diamond warning signs for curves, narrowing roads, merges, lane endings, divided highways, bumps and hidden hazards, chevrons and checkerboards, lane-use arrows and green guide signs.
- Work zone signsOrange work zone signs, general, arrow, specific and human activity signs, traffic control persons, flashing arrow boards, lane closures and the main causes of work zone collisions.
- Traffic signals and crossing guardsGreen, yellow and red lights, right and left turns on red, arrow signals, flashing red, yellow and green signals, lane-control signals, dark signals, pedestrian Walk signals and crossing guards.
- Pavement markings and special lanesYellow and white lines, broken, solid and double solid centre lines, edge lines on divided highways, climbing lanes, continuity lines and two-way-left-turn lanes.
- Graduated licensing: Class 7, 5N and restricted stageApplying for a Class 7 learner's licence, the knowledge and vision tests, learner and newly licensed restrictions, curfew, waiting periods, driver training, the restricted individual stage, visitors and new residents, and licence classes.
- Demerit points and losing your licenceDemerit point values for common offences, warning, interview and suspension thresholds for learners, newly licensed and other drivers, probationary and conditional licences, revocation and suspension.
- Right of way, pedestrians and emergency vehiclesIntersection right-of-way rules, marked and unmarked crosswalks, pedestrians at signals, driveways, emergency vehicles, the slow down and move over rule and yielding to transit buses.
- Speed, stopping distance and followingDefault speed limits, 50 km/h situations, school zone limits, stopping distances, driving too slowly, keeping right, the two-second rule, safety scans, blind spots and curves.
- Signals, turning, lane changes and passingSignal lights, hand signals and the horn, right and left turns, turning lanes, lane changes, overtaking and passing, places where passing is unsafe, being passed and backing up.
- Parking, roundabouts and drivewaysWhere you may not stop or park and the distances involved, parallel and angle parking, parking on a hill, roundabouts and rotaries, and entering or leaving driveways.
- Highways, school buses and sharing the road100-series controlled-access highways and interchanges, large commercial vehicles and truck blind spots, school bus lights, motorcycles and bicycles.
- Your vehicle: inspection, equipment, registration and insuranceAnnual safety inspection, tires and studded tire dates, maintenance checks, lighting and horn rules, special flashing lights, loads and trailers, vehicle permits and plates, and mandatory liability insurance.
- Seat belts, child seats and safe driving habitsSeat belt law, child restraints and booster seats, airbags, carrying passengers, driving position, steering, braking and ABS, defensive driving and highway hypnosis.
- Night driving and bad weatherHeadlight timing and dimming distances, glare, rain, fog and snow, hydroplaning, wet brakes, ice and black ice stopping distances, gravel roads, four-wheel drive and winter driving.
- Emergencies and collisionsBreakdowns, brake failure, blowouts, power and headlight failure, a stuck gas pedal, fires, skids, wheels off the pavement, animals, water, downed wires, snow plows and collision reporting duties.
- Impaired driving and fitness to driveBlood alcohol limits, standard drinks, roadside screening results and suspensions, the administrative licence suspension, penalties by offence, drug impairment, emotions, vision standards and fatigue.