New Mexico: Railroad crossings Practice Test
Advance warning signs and crossbucks, flashing lights and gates, crossings with more than one track, and vehicles that must always stop.
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "New Mexico Driver Manual" (Version 11.19.19), New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).
All 19 questions in this practice test
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Under what condition should you never start to cross a railroad crossing?
- If there is not enough room for your vehicle on the far side
- If it is raining hard or the road surface is wet
- If your vehicle has a manual transmission and a heavy load
- If the crossing has a crossbuck sign at the side of the road
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Correct answer: If there is not enough room for your vehicle on the far side
Never start to cross if there is not enough room for your vehicle on the far side and you would have to stop on the tracks.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 5
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Why does the manual say it is wise not to shift gears when crossing railroad tracks?
- The gears might lock up
- It is against the law
- You might stall
- The noise might hide the train horn
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Correct answer: You might stall
It is wise not to shift gears when crossing railroad tracks, just in case you might stall.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 5
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How may a train's actual speed compare with how fast it looks?
- It is always slower than it looks
- It may be moving faster than it looks
- It is always exactly as fast as it looks
- It is never faster than a car
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Correct answer: It may be moving faster than it looks
Trains are large and may be moving faster than they look.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 5
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A round yellow warning sign with an X symbol and black RR letters is placed where?
- At the railroad crossing itself, beside the tracks
- Only at railroad crossings that have gates
- Beyond the tracks, on the far side of the crossing
- Along the road before you get to a railroad crossing
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Correct answer: Along the road before you get to a railroad crossing
The round yellow railroad warning sign is placed along the road before you get to a railroad crossing.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 5
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A white X-shaped "crossbuck" sign at a railroad crossing has the same meaning as which sign?
- A Stop sign
- A Yield sign
- A Do Not Enter sign
- A Slow Moving Vehicle sign
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Correct answer: A Yield sign
The crossbuck sign has the same meaning as a Yield sign: you must yield to crossing trains.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 5
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At a railroad crossing, side-by-side lights flash alternately. What must you do?
- Slow down and cross if no train is visible
- Proceed with caution
- Stop only if you see a train
- Stop
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Correct answer: Stop
When the crossing lights are flashing, you must stop.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 6
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A crossing gate lowers as a train is coming. What does the manual say?
- Do not drive around the gate
- You may drive around it if no train is visible
- You may go around it on the left only
- You may go around it if you are in a hurry
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Correct answer: Do not drive around the gate
The manual says not to drive around the crossing gate that lowers when a train is coming.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 6
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A bell or horn is sounding at a railroad crossing. When may you cross?
- After you slow down and look both ways
- Any time you see no train
- Not until the bell or horn has stopped
- After you honk your horn
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Correct answer: Not until the bell or horn has stopped
The manual says not to cross until the bell or horn has stopped.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 6
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Not all railroad crossings with more than one track have a sign showing the number of tracks. What is important?
- Checking for more than one track before crossing
- Waiting for a sign to appear
- Assuming there is only one track
- Crossing quickly before another train comes
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Correct answer: Checking for more than one track before crossing
Not all crossings with more than one track have signs, so it is important to check for more than one track before crossing.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 6
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School buses, taxis and trucks carrying explosives or gasoline must stop at least how far from a railroad crossing before proceeding?
- 5 feet
- 10 feet
- 15 feet
- 50 feet
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Correct answer: 15 feet
These vehicles must stop at least 15 feet from a railroad crossing before proceeding.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 6
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What must a school bus driver do before crossing a railroad crossing?
- Turn on the red flashing lights
- Open the doors of the school bus
- Ask passengers to move to the back
- Sound the horn twice
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Correct answer: Open the doors of the school bus
A school bus driver must open the doors of the school bus before crossing.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 6
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Who has the right-of-way when a train is crossing the roadway?
- The driver who reaches the crossing first
- The vehicle with the larger load
- The train
- Whichever vehicle is moving faster
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Correct answer: The train
You must yield the right-of-way to trains crossing the roadway.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 12
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As you approach any railroad crossing, what should you do?
- Keep your speed if you have never seen a train there
- Slow down and look up and down the tracks
- Speed up to cross before any train arrives
- Stop only if you can see a train coming
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Correct answer: Slow down and look up and down the tracks
The manual says to slow down and look up and down the tracks to make sure a train is not coming.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 16
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What is one of the leading causes of fatalities at railroad crossings?
- Stopping too far from the tracks
- Driving too slowly across the tracks
- Waiting too long for a train to pass
- Assuming that a train is not coming
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Correct answer: Assuming that a train is not coming
The manual says assuming that a train is not coming is one of the leading causes of fatalities at railroad crossings.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 16
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What should you make sure of before you cross railroad tracks?
- There is room for your vehicle on the far side
- Your vehicle is in the lowest gear available
- Your parking lights are turned on and working
- Your windows are open so you can hear a train
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Correct answer: There is room for your vehicle on the far side
The manual says to make sure there is room for your vehicle on the far side before you cross the tracks.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 16
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At a crossing with more than one track, when should you start to cross after a train passes?
- As soon as the first train has passed the crossing
- As soon as the last train car has passed you
- Once the passing train is well down the track
- Right away, because a second train is unlikely
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Correct answer: Once the passing train is well down the track
The manual says to wait until the passing train is well down the track, because another train may be hidden by the one that just passed.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 16
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Besides making sure no trains are coming, why may you need to slow down at some railroad crossings?
- The tracks are always wet
- The road narrows beside the tracks
- Some crossings are bumpy
- Trains may not sound a horn
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Correct answer: Some crossings are bumpy
The manual says some crossings are bumpy so you need to slow down to cross safely.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 22
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When you cross railroad tracks, what must you make sure you can do?
- Cross at the same speed as other traffic
- Cross without having to stop on the tracks
- Cross while using your horn
- Cross in the lane closest to the gate
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Correct answer: Cross without having to stop on the tracks
The manual says that when you cross railroad tracks you should make sure you can cross without having to stop on the tracks.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 24
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When should you not pass because of a railroad crossing?
- Only if a train is in sight
- Only if the crossing has no gates or warning lights
- If there is a railroad grade crossing ahead
- Only if the crossing lights are flashing
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Correct answer: If there is a railroad grade crossing ahead
The manual says not to pass if there is a railroad grade crossing ahead.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 25