Driving Test Practice

Maine: Railroad crossings Practice Test

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

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14 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 "Maine Driver’s License Manual" (Rev 4/24), Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

All 14 questions in this practice test

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  1. A yellow warning sign with an "X" symbol and black "RR" cautions you to do what?

    A round yellow sign with a black border showing a large black X with a black letter R in the left and right quarters.
    • Slow down, look and listen for a train, and be prepared to stop
    • Stop completely and wait for a flagger to wave you across
    • Keep your speed and sound your horn as you cross the tracks
    • Move to the left lane and wait for the signal to change
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    Correct answer: Slow down, look and listen for a train, and be prepared to stop

    A round yellow warning sign with an "X" symbol and black "RR" cautions you to slow down, look and listen for a train or railroad vehicle, and be prepared to stop.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 6-5 · Open this page in the manual

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  2. A train or railroad vehicle is coming at a crossing that has a sign with the words "Railroad Crossing." What must you do?

    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
    • Slow down and cross if the tracks look clear
    • Stop behind the stop line or before the tracks
    • Stop on the tracks until the train has passed
    • Wait beside the tracks on the road shoulder
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    Correct answer: Stop behind the stop line or before the tracks

    If a train or railroad vehicle is coming, you must stop behind the stop line or before the tracks.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 6-5 · Open this page in the manual

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  3. Not all railroad crossings with more than one track have signs showing the number of tracks. What should you always do at every 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.
    • Look for more than one track, train or railroad vehicle
    • Assume there is only one track unless a sign says otherwise
    • Count the tracks before you slow down
    • Look only in the direction of the first track
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Look for more than one track, train or railroad vehicle

    Signs showing the number of tracks are not at every crossing, so you must always look for more than one track, train or railroad vehicle.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 6-5 · Open this page in the manual

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  4. What are you told never to do on railroad tracks?

    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.
    • Look both ways before crossing
    • Cross the tracks quickly
    • Stop on the railroad tracks
    • Wait for gates to lift
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    Correct answer: Stop on the railroad tracks

    The manual says not to stop on the railroad tracks.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 6-5 · Open this page in the manual

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  5. If a train is crossing, when may you drive ahead?

    A long freight train crosses a road past lowered red-and-white striped gate arms with flashing red lights, and a white stop line on each side.
    • As soon as the last car has passed the crossing
    • After the train is well down the track
    • As soon as the train horn stops sounding
    • After the train slows down to a stop
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    Correct answer: After the train is well down the track

    You must wait until the train is well down the track before you drive ahead.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 6-5 · Open this page in the manual

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  6. If you must stop for traffic or a signal near a railroad crossing, where should you wait?

    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.
    • At the stop line before the tracks
    • On the tracks, if no train is coming
    • As close to the tracks as you can get
    • Past the tracks, in the next open space
    Show answer

    Correct answer: At the stop line before the tracks

    Wait at the stop line before the tracks, not on the tracks.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 6-5 · Open this page in the manual

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  7. When crossing railroad tracks, you should look both ways and do what?

    Three cars in a line, the blue car last, approach a railroad crossing on a two-lane road, with white crossbuck signs on both sides.
    • Cross slowly in a low gear
    • Stop in the middle to check again
    • Cross the tracks quickly
    • Sound your horn as you cross
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    Correct answer: Cross the tracks quickly

    The manual says to look both ways and cross the tracks quickly.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 6-5 · Open this page in the manual

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  8. Which of these must stop at all 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 school bus
    • A passenger car
    • A pickup truck
    • A motorcycle
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    Correct answer: A school bus

    The manual says to be alert for buses, school buses and tank trucks, which must stop at all railroad crossings.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 8-3 · Open this page in the manual

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  9. A railroad crossing warning sign is not flashing. What should you do?

    A red car drives across a single railroad track while a blue car follows toward the crossing, whose crossbuck signals have dark red lights; trees and brush line the track.
    • Continue at your normal speed because no train is coming
    • Speed up to clear the tracks quickly
    • Slow down and look both ways
    • Stop and wait until the sign starts flashing
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    Correct answer: Slow down and look both ways

    You should slow down and look both ways even if the sign is not flashing, because it may not be working.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 8-3 · Open this page in the manual

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  10. Which action is prohibited at a railroad crossing?

    A railroad crossing with flashing lights and a lowered gate
    • Waiting for flashing lights to go out
    • Stopping before the tracks in heavy traffic
    • Looking both ways before crossing
    • Driving around a gate or barrier
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    Correct answer: Driving around a gate or barrier

    The manual says not to drive around any railroad crossing gate or barrier.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 8-3 · Open this page in the manual

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  11. At a crossing with more than one set of tracks, what must you do after a train goes by before you start across?

    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.
    • Start as soon as the first train's last car is out of sight
    • Wait until you have a clear view down the track in both directions
    • Check only the direction the train came from
    • Wait for a second train to pass before crossing
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    Correct answer: Wait until you have a clear view down the track in both directions

    Another train could be coming from the other direction, so wait for a clear view in both directions.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 8-3 · Open this page in the manual

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  12. Why should you not shift a manual transmission while crossing railroad tracks?

    A red car on a two-lane road heading toward a railroad track that crosses it, with a white X-shaped sign on a post at each side of the road.
    • Being in gear gives you better control on the uneven surface
    • The tracks may damage the clutch if you shift on them
    • Shifting makes the car slow down too quickly
    • The gear lever may jam on a rough surface
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    Correct answer: Being in gear gives you better control on the uneven surface

    The manual says being in gear gives you better control on the uneven surface of the tracks.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 8-3 · Open this page in the manual

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  13. What should you do about tracks marked "Exempt"?

    A white X-shaped railroad crossbuck reading RAILROAD and CROSSING on a post, with a small white plaque reading EXEMPT below it.
    • Treat them as unused and cross normally
    • Cross without slowing because trains rarely use them
    • Check all tracks regardless of these signs
    • Stop only if you actually see a train
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    Correct answer: Check all tracks regardless of these signs

    Exempt tracks are not used often but may be in use, so check all tracks regardless of these signs.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 8-3 · Open this page in the manual

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  14. If your car stalls on railroad tracks, a train is coming, and you are not having any success moving your vehicle, what should you do?

    A car stuck on railroad tracks behind stopped traffic, with the gates down and a train approaching
    • Keep trying to restart it until the train arrives
    • Stop trying and get away
    • Stay inside and sound the horn
    • Stay inside and fasten your seat belt
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    Correct answer: Stop trying and get away

    If a train is coming and you are not having success moving your vehicle, you stop trying and get away.

    Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 9-6 · Open this page in the manual

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