Driving Test Practice

Kentucky: Railroad crossings Practice Test

Railroad signs and signals, where to stop, crossing the tracks and what to do if your vehicle stalls on them.

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15 questions · About 6 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 "Kentucky Driver Manual" (Updated July 23, 2026), Kentucky State Police.

All 15 questions in this practice test

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  1. Two flashing red lights mark a railroad crossing. When may you proceed?

    A white RAILROAD CROSSING crossbuck sign with a bell and a pair of red signal lights, one of them lit
    • After you slow down and look both ways for any train
    • Once you have honked the horn to warn any approaching train
    • Only after the lights stop flashing and no train is approaching
    • As soon as you can see that the track is clear for about a mile
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Only after the lights stop flashing and no train is approaching

    You stop, and proceed only after the red lights stop flashing and you determine that no train is approaching.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 35 · Open this page in the manual

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  2. A round yellow sign with an X and black RR letters is placed along the road before a railroad grade crossing. What does it caution you to do?

    A round yellow sign with a black border showing a large black X with a black letter R in the left and right quarters.
    • Stop at the sign and wait for a flagger to wave you across
    • Speed up to cross the tracks before a train arrives
    • Move to the left lane to prepare for a turn at the tracks
    • Slow down, look and listen for a train, and be prepared to stop
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    Correct answer: Slow down, look and listen for a train, and be prepared to stop

    The round yellow railroad sign cautions you to slow down, look and listen for a train or railroad vehicle, and be prepared to stop if a train is approaching.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 36 · Open this page in the manual

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  3. A railroad grade crossing has more than one track, but no sign posted showing the number of tracks. What is important to do at each crossing?

    Top view of a two-lane road crossing two parallel railroad tracks, with a white X-shaped crossbuck sign beside the tracks and a round yellow RR sign on the approach; a blue car drives toward the crossing and no train is in sight.
    • Assume there is only one track unless a sign says otherwise
    • Look for a train only on the track nearest to you
    • Cross at once, since a train on a second track would have been signed
    • Check for more than one track, train, or railroad vehicle
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    Correct answer: Check for more than one track, train, or railroad vehicle

    Not all crossings with more than one track have signs, so it is important to check for more than one track, train, or railroad vehicle.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 36 · Open this page in the manual

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  4. Which statement about lights at railroad grade crossings is true?

    • All of them have lights
    • Not all of them have lights
    • Only crossings with more than one track have lights
    • Only crossings on interstate highways have lights
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    Correct answer: Not all of them have lights

    Not all railroad grade crossings have lights.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 36 · Open this page in the manual

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  5. What should you do when you need to cross railroad tracks?

    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
    • Stop on the tracks to look both ways before continuing
    • Stop on the rails, shift to a lower gear, and then cross
    • Look both ways and cross the tracks quickly, without stopping
    • Cross slowly while sounding your horn
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    Correct answer: Look both ways and cross the tracks quickly, without stopping

    When crossing railroad tracks you look both ways and cross quickly, without stopping.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 36 · Open this page in the manual

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  6. A train is crossing the highway. When may you cross the highway-railroad grade crossing?

    A blue car waiting behind lowered gates with flashing red lights while a freight train passes on the nearer of two railroad tracks
    • When the train is well down the track or lights and gates indicate it is safe
    • As soon as the front of the train has cleared the road ahead of you
    • As soon as the last car of the train has passed the crossing road
    • Whenever the train slows down enough for you to see across it
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    Correct answer: When the train is well down the track or lights and gates indicate it is safe

    You must wait until the train is well down the track or railroad devices, such as lights and gates, indicate it is safe to cross.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 36 · Open this page in the manual

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  7. You are approaching railroad tracks and need to stop for traffic or a signal. Where should you stop?

    A blue car approaches a railroad crossing while a line of cars, stopped at a red traffic light just beyond the tracks, backs up toward the far rail.
    • At the stop line before the railroad tracks
    • On the tracks, as far forward as possible
    • Just past the tracks to keep traffic moving
    • Beside the nearest rail
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    Correct answer: At the stop line before the railroad tracks

    If you need to stop for traffic or a signal near railroad tracks, stop at the stop line before the tracks.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 36 · Open this page in the manual

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  8. You are boxed in or stalled on a railroad crossing. What should you do?

    A car stuck on railroad tracks behind stopped traffic, with the gates down and a train approaching
    • Stay in the car and keep trying to restart the engine until the train gets close
    • Stay in the car and sound the horn continuously so that the train will stop
    • Abandon your car immediately and run away from the track in the direction the train is coming
    • Get out of the car and wait beside it, close to the tracks, until help arrives
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    Correct answer: Abandon your car immediately and run away from the track in the direction the train is coming

    You abandon the car immediately and run away from the track in the direction the train is coming, to avoid being hit by flying debris.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual

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  9. After abandoning a stalled vehicle on a railroad crossing and reaching a safe distance, whom should you call?

    • Only a local towing company to remove the vehicle
    • The 800 number posted on or near the crossbuck, or 911
    • Only the nearest driver licensing regional office
    • The railroad's customer service office by e-mail
    Show answer

    Correct answer: The 800 number posted on or near the crossbuck, or 911

    You call the 800 number posted on or near the crossbuck, or 911, to alert the dispatcher of your stalled vehicle.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual

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  10. When may you try to restart a vehicle that stalled on a railroad crossing?

    A red car stopped on railroad tracks with its hazard lights flashing, the crossing lights dark and the gates up
    • As soon as you have reached a safe distance from the tracks
    • As soon as the warning lights stop flashing near the tracks
    • After you have waited at least five minutes for the train
    • Not until a dispatcher says it is safe and no trains approach
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Not until a dispatcher says it is safe and no trains approach

    Do not attempt to restart the vehicle until a dispatcher indicates it is safe and no trains are approaching.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual

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  11. How far may an average freight train traveling at 55 miles per hour need to stop?

    • About 500 feet
    • About 1,000 feet
    • About a quarter of a mile
    • A mile or more
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    Correct answer: A mile or more

    The stopping distance for an average freight train at 55 miles per hour may be a mile or more.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual

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  12. You are stopped at a railroad crossing with more than one track and a train has just passed. What should you do?

    A blue car waiting behind lowered gates with flashing red lights while a freight train passes on the nearer of two railroad tracks
    • Start up as soon as the train has passed the crossing
    • Wait until you have a clear view in both directions
    • Wait for the train's horn to sound twice before going
    • Follow the car in front of you across the tracks
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    Correct answer: Wait until you have a clear view in both directions

    A second train could be approaching from the other direction, so you wait until you have a clear view in both directions.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual

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  13. Before you cross a railroad crossing, what must there be?

    Top view of a two-lane road crossing two parallel railroad tracks, with a white X-shaped crossbuck sign beside the tracks and a round yellow RR sign on the approach; a blue car drives toward the crossing and no train is in sight.
    • Enough room for your vehicle to stop on the tracks if needed
    • A vehicle ahead of you already crossing
    • Ample space to get completely across and off the tracks
    • A railroad employee giving directions
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    Correct answer: Ample space to get completely across and off the tracks

    Never attempt to cross until there is ample space to get completely across and off the tracks.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual

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  14. What should you expect when approaching any railroad track?

    A blue car approaches a railroad crossing marked only by crossbuck signs, where trees, a hedge and a barn beside the tracks hide the view along the line.
    • A train
    • A flagger
    • A traffic officer
    • A school bus
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    Correct answer: A train

    You should expect a train when approaching any railroad track.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual

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  15. Which action at a railroad crossing is against the law, and could get you cited?

    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
    • Crossing after the lights are flashing or the gates are down
    • Looking both ways for trains before crossing the tracks
    • Stopping at the stop line before the railroad tracks
    • Waiting until a train is well down the track to cross
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Crossing after the lights are flashing or the gates are down

    Crossing a railroad track after the warning lights are flashing or the crossing gates are down is against the law.

    Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (Updated July 23, 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual

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