Montana: Railroad crossings Practice Test
Advance warning signs, crossbucks, flashing lights and gates, crossings with more than one track and the emergency notification sign.
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Montana Driver Manual" (Revised April 2024), Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division.
All 19 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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Before starting across railroad tracks, what must there be?
- A clear view of the signals at the next crossing
- A traffic light on the far side
- A gap of at least 15 feet behind you
- Room for your vehicle on the far side
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Correct answer: Room for your vehicle on the far side
The manual says never to start to cross until there is room for your vehicle on the far side.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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If there is any question about safety at a railroad crossing, what should you do?
- Stop
- Speed up
- Honk
- Shift gears
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Correct answer: Stop
The manual says to stop if there is any question about safety at a railroad crossing.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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The manual says you should never try to do what at a railroad crossing?
- Stop before the tracks
- Look both ways for a train
- Beat a train across the tracks
- Wait for the gates to rise
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Correct answer: Beat a train across the tracks
The manual says never to try to beat a train across the tracks.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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What does the manual say it is wise not to do when crossing railroad tracks, in case you stall?
- Use your signal
- Shift gears
- Slow down
- Turn your lights on
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Correct answer: Shift gears
The manual says it is wise not to shift gears when crossing railroad tracks, just in case you might stall.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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What is the shortest distance from the nearest rail at which you must stop when crossing gates or warning signals show a train is coming?
- 5 feet
- 10 feet
- 25 feet
- 15 feet
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Correct answer: 15 feet
You must stop as close as practicable but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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At a railroad crossing, you must stop when a train is within what distance of the crossing?
- 1500 feet
- 500 feet
- 750 feet
- 2000 feet
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Correct answer: 1500 feet
You are required to stop at railroad crossings when the train is within 1500 feet of the crossing, or if it is clearly visible and an obvious hazard.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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A round yellow sign with a black X and the letters RR stands in advance of a railroad crossing. What does it tell you to do?
- Stop at the sign and wait for a flagger to wave you across the tracks
- Yield to trains only when the lights are flashing at the crossing
- Slow down, look, listen, and be prepared to stop at the crossing ahead
- Move to the left lane and cross the tracks as fast as is safe
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Correct answer: Slow down, look, listen, and be prepared to stop at the crossing ahead
Advance warning signs tell you to slow down, look, listen, and be prepared to stop at the crossing ahead.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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Which pavement markings may be painted in front of railroad crossings?
- A solid white line and the word TRAIN
- A stop line, an X, and the letters RR
- A yellow diamond and the word RAIL
- Zigzag lines and the word STOP
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Correct answer: A stop line, an X, and the letters RR
A stop line, an X, and the letters RR may be painted on the pavement in front of crossings to warn you to be alert to the crossing ahead.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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Where will railroad cross buck signs be found?
- Only at crossings with gates
- Only at crossings with more than one track
- Only at crossings outside towns
- At all public crossings
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Correct answer: At all public crossings
Railroad cross buck signs will be found at all public crossings.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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At a railroad crossing with more than one track, what does a sign below the cross buck indicate?
- The number of tracks
- The number of trains due
- The speed limit for trains
- The width of the crossing
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Correct answer: The number of tracks
If there is more than one track, a sign below the cross buck indicates the number of tracks.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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What does it mean when the flashing lights at a railroad crossing begin to flash?
- A train has just passed and you may cross
- The gates are broken, so you may cross with care
- A train is coming, so you must stop
- The crossing is closed to heavy vehicles
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Correct answer: A train is coming, so you must stop
Always stop when the lights begin to flash, because this means that a train is coming.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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At a railroad crossing with more than one track and flashing lights, what must you make sure of before crossing?
- That the first track is clear
- That all tracks are clear
- That the gates are lowered
- That the last car has passed
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Correct answer: That all tracks are clear
If there is more than one track, make sure all tracks are clear before starting to cross.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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At a crossing with gates and flashing lights, when must you stop?
- After the gates have lowered all the way across your road lane
- Only when the gates are fully down and the lights are flashing
- Only if you can see the train coming down the tracks toward you
- When the lights begin to flash, before the gates lower across your lane
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Correct answer: When the lights begin to flash, before the gates lower across your lane
You stop when the lights begin to flash, before the gates lower across your road lane.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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After stopping for a railroad crossing with gates, when may you proceed?
- When the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing
- When the gates are raised, even if the lights keep flashing
- When the lights stop flashing, even if a gate is down
- As soon as you can see that the train has moved on
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Correct answer: When the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing
You remain stopped until the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 33
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Where does the manual say you should always expect a train?
- On roads that run alongside railroad tracks
- At railroad crossings
- At bridges over railroad tracks
- Only at crossings that have gates
Show answer
Correct answer: At railroad crossings
The manual says to scan to the sides at intersections and at railroad crossings, where you should always expect a train.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 52
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According to the manual, what is one of the leading causes of fatalities at railroad crossings?
- Assuming no train is coming because you have never seen one there
- Stopping too close to the tracks when a train is coming
- Crossing the tracks too slowly while the signals are flashing
- Looking up and down the tracks more than one time
Show answer
Correct answer: Assuming no train is coming because you have never seen one there
The manual says not to assume a train is not coming, even if you have never seen one at that crossing; that assumption is one of the leading causes of fatalities there.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 53
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At a railroad crossing with more than one track, when should you start to cross after a train has passed?
- As soon as the last car has passed
- As soon as the crossing signals stop flashing
- After the passing train is well down the track
- As soon as the train's horn stops
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Correct answer: After the passing train is well down the track
Another train could be coming that was hidden by the one that just passed, so wait until the passing train is well down the track.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 53
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When approaching a railroad crossing, you should leave extra room for which of these vehicles?
- A school bus
- A passenger car
- A motorcycle
- A bicycle
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Correct answer: A school bus
You leave extra room for vehicles required to come to a stop at railroad crossings, including transit buses, school buses, and vehicles carrying hazardous materials.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 65
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A sign posted at or near a railroad crossing lists a telephone number along with a US DOT number. What is it used for?
- To request a train schedule for the crossing from the railroad
- To notify the railroad of an emergency or a device problem
- To report a driver who ignored the crossing signals
- To ask for a crossing to be closed to all traffic
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Correct answer: To notify the railroad of an emergency or a device problem
The Emergency Notification System sign lists a telephone number and a US DOT number and is used to notify the railroad of an emergency or warning device malfunction.
Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 86