Driving Test Practice

Indiana: Railroad crossings Practice Test

Railroad signs and signals, vehicles that must stop, blocked crossings and the Emergency Notification System.

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24 questions · About 10 min

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  • Every answer cites its source in the manual
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Indiana Driver’s Manual" (July 2026), Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

All 24 questions in this practice test

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  1. How far from the nearest rail must vehicles that are required by law to stop at a railroad crossing stop?

    A bus stopped before a railroad crossing with hazard lights on
    • Not closer than 5 feet or farther than 15 feet
    • Not closer than 25 feet or farther than 100 feet
    • Not closer than 50 feet or farther than 100 feet
    • Not closer than 15 feet or farther than 50 feet
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    Correct answer: Not closer than 15 feet or farther than 50 feet

    Some vehicles are required by law to always stop not closer than 15 feet or farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  2. Which of these vehicles must always stop at railroad crossings?

    Four vehicles in separate lanes before railroad tracks: a motorcycle, a small red car, a green pickup pulling a trailer and a yellow bus with black stripes.
    • A passenger car
    • A school bus
    • A motorcycle
    • A pickup truck hauling lumber
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    Correct answer: A school bus

    The manual lists all school buses among the vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  3. The requirement for some vehicles to stop at railroad crossings does not apply at which crossing?

    • A crossing on a rural road with no houses
    • Abandoned tracks with appropriate signs placed
    • A crossing that has no gates or lights
    • A crossing where no train can be seen coming
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Abandoned tracks with appropriate signs placed

    The requirement does not apply to abandoned railroad tracks where appropriate signs have been placed or the tracks crossing the roadway have been removed.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  4. What does the manual say about the warning devices at railroad crossings?

    A two-lane road with a double yellow center line leading to railroad tracks: a large X with the letters R R painted in the lane, a white line across the lane before the rails, a crossbuck and a round yellow sign beside the road, and a blue car approaching
    • Every crossing has lights and gates
    • Every crossing has pavement markings and a crossbuck
    • Crossings with signs never have signals
    • You should not expect to see all of them at every crossing
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    Correct answer: You should not expect to see all of them at every crossing

    Special signs, signals and pavement markings are used, but not all of them at every crossing.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  5. What do crossbucks at a railroad crossing mark?

    A railroad crossing sign
    • The location of the tracks
    • The speed limit for trains
    • The distance to the next station
    • The end of a no-passing zone
    Show answer

    Correct answer: The location of the tracks

    The manual says crossbucks at a railroad crossing mark the location of the tracks.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  6. How should you treat a crossbuck that is displayed alone?

    A blue car on a two-lane road with a double yellow centre line, approaching a single track that crosses it at an angle, with a RAILROAD CROSSING crossbuck sign on each side.
    • As a stop sign
    • As a signal to speed up
    • As a yield sign
    • As a no-passing sign
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    Correct answer: As a yield sign

    When displayed alone, a crossbuck is treated as a yield sign, and you must stop if a train is approaching.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  7. What must you do when a crossbuck is displayed with a stop sign?

    A blue car approaches a rural railroad crossing where a STOP sign is mounted below the RAILROAD CROSSING crossbuck, with a white stop line before the empty track.
    • Stop completely, cross only when no train approaches
    • Slow down and cross once you see no train coming
    • Stop only if you can see a train approaching
    • Treat it as a yield sign and then cross carefully
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    Correct answer: Stop completely, cross only when no train approaches

    With a crossbuck and a stop sign you must come to a complete stop and proceed over the tracks only after making certain that a train is not approaching.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  8. When may you proceed after stopping for active warning bells, flashing lights, or lights and gates at a railroad crossing?

    A railroad crossing with flashing lights and a lowered gate
    • As soon as you can no longer see a train coming
    • After waiting at least ten seconds for the train
    • When it is canceled or an officer or flagman directs you
    • When the driver behind you sounds the horn at you
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    Correct answer: When it is canceled or an officer or flagman directs you

    You must not proceed until the active warning is canceled or a law enforcement officer or railroad flagman directs you to proceed.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  9. Driving around a crossing gate that is down is:

    A railroad crossing with flashing lights and a lowered gate
    • Allowed if no train is visible
    • Illegal
    • Allowed at a slow speed
    • Allowed if the gate has been down a long time
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    Correct answer: Illegal

    The manual states it is illegal to drive around a crossing gate that is down.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  10. Why does the manual say you should never try to race a train to a crossing?

    A blue car driving toward a rural railroad crossing marked only by RAILROAD CROSSING crossbuck signs, as a freight train sounding its horn approaches from the left
    • Trains always travel faster than the speed limit
    • Train horns cannot be heard from inside a car
    • Crossing gates close without warning
    • A train’s actual speed can be very deceiving
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    Correct answer: A train’s actual speed can be very deceiving

    Due to the size of trains, their actual speed can be very deceiving, so you should never try to race a train to a crossing.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  11. What does a round yellow warning sign with a black X and the letters R and R tell drivers?

    A round yellow sign with a black border showing a large black X with a black letter R in the left and right quarters.
    • A school zone is ahead
    • A work zone is ahead
    • A railroad crossing is ahead
    • A narrow bridge is ahead
    Show answer

    Correct answer: A railroad crossing is ahead

    A round yellow sign with a black X and the letters R and R warns that a railroad crossing is ahead.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 48 · Open this page in the manual

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  12. What should you avoid doing while crossing railroad tracks?

    A blue car on a two-lane road with a double yellow centre line, approaching a single track that crosses it at an angle, with a RAILROAD CROSSING crossbuck sign on each side.
    • Stopping or shifting gears
    • Using your turn signal
    • Looking for another train
    • Checking your mirrors
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    Correct answer: Stopping or shifting gears

    The manual says to avoid stopping or shifting gears while crossing railroad tracks.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  13. When should a driver begin to cross railroad tracks?

    A blue car approaches a railroad crossing on a two-lane road, with a crossbuck sign on each side of the tracks, as a yellow car drives along the other lane on the far side.
    • As soon as the vehicle ahead of you has started across
    • Whenever no train can be seen in either direction
    • Only when the tracks can be cleared without stopping
    • After slowing to a crawl and shifting into a lower gear
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Only when the tracks can be cleared without stopping

    A driver should never begin to cross unless the tracks can be cleared without stopping on them.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  14. What should all occupants do if the vehicle stalls on railroad tracks?

    A car stuck on railroad tracks behind stopped traffic, with the gates down and a train approaching
    • Stay buckled in until help arrives
    • Immediately leave the vehicle
    • Stay inside and keep trying to restart it
    • Remain inside and sound the horn
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    Correct answer: Immediately leave the vehicle

    If a vehicle stalls on the tracks, all occupants should immediately leave it.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  15. What does the emergency notification sign at a railroad crossing let you do?

    A blue rectangular sign with a white border, white lettering and a telephone symbol, mounted on a post below a white railroad crossbuck.
    • Find out when the next train will arrive
    • Report a vehicle that drove around the gate
    • Request a tow truck for your vehicle
    • Contact the railroad about a blocked crossing
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Contact the railroad about a blocked crossing

    The sign gives contact information to call the railroad about a blocked crossing.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  16. Where there is more than one track, what must a driver waiting for the track to clear make sure of?

    A blue car waiting behind lowered gates with flashing red lights while a freight train passes on the nearer of two railroad tracks
    • That another train is not coming on the other track
    • That the gate arms have been raised on both sides
    • That the first train has stopped completely
    • That the signal ahead of the crossing is green
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    Correct answer: That another train is not coming on the other track

    After the first train clears, the driver must check that another train is not coming on the other track.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  17. What is a ‘local quiet zone’ at a railroad crossing?

    • A place where trains must stop and wait before entering any gated crossing in town
    • A place where vehicles may not stop within 50 feet of the tracks at any crossing
    • A place where locomotive horns are not sounded by approaching trains at some gated crossings
    • A place where crossing gates stay down until the train has fully passed through
    Show answer

    Correct answer: A place where locomotive horns are not sounded by approaching trains at some gated crossings

    Local quiet zones are where locomotive horns are not sounded by approaching trains at some gated crossings.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  18. Some trains operate on tracks in the middle of streets. How do traffic signals show an approaching train?

    A street with light rail tracks down the middle, a light rail vehicle on the tracks, and a car in the lane to its right.
    • They flash yellow in all directions
    • They flash red in all directions
    • They turn green in the train's direction
    • They turn dark until the train has passed
    Show answer

    Correct answer: They flash red in all directions

    Where trains run in the middle of streets, signals flash red in all directions, and drivers should treat it like any other crossing warning.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  19. Once the crossing lights flash and the gate begins to lower, about how long do you have to escape from the crossing?

    A red car on railroad tracks as the crossing's red lights flash and the gates come down, with a car on the other side
    • About 20 seconds
    • About 5 seconds
    • About 45 seconds
    • About 2 minutes
    Show answer

    Correct answer: About 20 seconds

    You have approximately 20 seconds to escape once the lights begin to flash and the gate begins to lower.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  20. If you are stuck on a crossing and a train is approaching, at what angle should you run away from the tracks?

    A car stuck on railroad tracks behind stopped traffic, with the gates down and a train approaching
    • A 30-degree angle
    • A 60-degree angle
    • A 45-degree angle
    • A 90-degree angle
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    Correct answer: A 45-degree angle

    The manual says to run at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  21. Your vehicle is disabled on a railroad crossing and no train is approaching. What should you do immediately?

    A red car stopped on railroad tracks with its hazard lights flashing, the crossing lights dark and the gates up
    • Call a tow truck company to move the vehicle
    • Call the Emergency Notification System (ENS)
    • Wait inside the vehicle for a train to appear
    • Try to push the vehicle off the tracks yourself
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    Correct answer: Call the Emergency Notification System (ENS)

    With no train present, you should immediately call the Emergency Notification System (ENS).

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  22. Where is the Emergency Notification System phone number located at a crossing?

    A white crossbuck on a grey mast with a black bell on top, and two round red lamps with black hoods and white rims on a crossarm below it.
    • On the yellow warning sign ahead of the crossing
    • On the white crossbuck sign at the crossing
    • On the red STOP sign at the crossing
    • On the blue sign attached to the crossing gate
    Show answer

    Correct answer: On the blue sign attached to the crossing gate

    The phone number is on the blue sign attached to the railroad track crossing gate.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  23. What should you tell the Emergency Notification System when you call?

    A red car stopped on railroad tracks with its hazard lights flashing, the crossing lights dark and the gates up
    • Exactly what obstruction is present and your location
    • Your license number and your vehicle registration
    • The time the next train is scheduled to arrive
    • Your insurance company and policy number
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    Correct answer: Exactly what obstruction is present and your location

    You should tell them exactly what obstruction is present and your location.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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  24. After you have notified the ENS about a blocked crossing with no train present, what should you do next?

    A red car stopped on railroad tracks with its hazard lights flashing, the crossing lights dark and the gates up
    • Wait by the vehicle until the railroad responds
    • Walk along the tracks to look for a train
    • Call 911 and report the problem
    • Contact your insurance company
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Call 911 and report the problem

    After notifying ENS, you should call 911 and report the problem.

    Source: Indiana Driver’s Manual (July 2026), page 49 · Open this page in the manual

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