North Carolina: Railroad crossings — Part 3 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “What is the Railroad Emergency Notification System sign also known as?” · “What words are printed in black on the white crosspieces of the crossbuck sign at a railroad crossing?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "North Carolina Driver Handbook" (Revised May 2025), North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV).
All 17 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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What is the Railroad Emergency Notification System sign also known as?
- The Green Sign
- The Red Sign
- The Blue Sign
- The Yellow Sign
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Correct answer: The Blue Sign
The Railroad Emergency Notification System sign is also known as the Blue Sign.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 62 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 62)
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How must the Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign be posted at all highway-railroad crossings in North Carolina?
- Only on the approach with the most traffic
- In each traffic direction
- Only at crossings that have gates
- Only on the side facing the train
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Correct answer: In each traffic direction
All highway-railroad crossings in North Carolina must have an ENS sign posted in each traffic direction.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 62 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 62)
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Which information does the ENS “Blue sign” contain?
- The crossing's speed limit, the train schedule and the nearest station
- The number of tracks, the speed of the train and the gate height
- The county name, the road number and the date of the last inspection
- Crossing ID number, railroad company name and an emergency phone number
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Correct answer: Crossing ID number, railroad company name and an emergency phone number
The ENS sign contains the railroad crossing identification number, name of the railroad company and an emergency telephone number.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 62 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 62)
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What does each railroad crossing have that is unique?
- A separate speed limit for the trains
- A locked gate control box at the site
- A USDOT crossing identification number
- A color-coded warning light on its gate
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Correct answer: A USDOT crossing identification number
Each railroad company has its own emergency telephone number and each crossing has a unique USDOT crossing identification number.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 62 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 62)
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If your vehicle stalls on or near the tracks, what should you do?
- Get out immediately
- Try to restart the engine
- Stay inside and call for help
- Wait for the gates to lower
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Correct answer: Get out immediately
If your vehicle stalls on or near the tracks, get out immediately.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 62 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 62)
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After getting out of a vehicle stalled on or near the tracks, what should you do?
- Stay close to the tracks so you can wave down the train
- Wait inside the vehicle with the doors locked and hazard lights on
- Walk down the tracks in the direction the train will come
- Walk quickly along the roadway to a safe location away from the tracks
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Correct answer: Walk quickly along the roadway to a safe location away from the tracks
The manual says to move away from your vehicle and the tracks and walk quickly along the roadway to a safe location.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 62 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 62)
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When you are safely away from the tracks, what should you find to report the emergency?
- The nearest police vehicle on the highway
- The blue sign at or near the railroad crossing
- The railroad's mile marker along the tracks
- The stop sign at the next intersection
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Correct answer: The blue sign at or near the railroad crossing
When safely away, find the blue sign at or near the crossing and report the emergency using the information on it.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 62 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 62)
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Who should you contact about damaged or missing Emergency Notification System signs?
- The railroad company that owns the tracks
- The USDOT Federal Railroad Administration
- The local county sheriff's department
- The North Carolina State Highway Patrol
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Correct answer: The USDOT Federal Railroad Administration
For damaged or missing signs, the manual says to contact the USDOT Federal Railroad Administration.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 62 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 62)
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When a train hits a 4,000-lb. car, what is it like?
- A truck hitting a mailbox
- A bicycle hitting a curb
- Your car running over a pothole
- Your car running over a soda can
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Correct answer: Your car running over a soda can
The manual compares a train hitting a 4,000-lb. car to your car running over a soda can.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 62 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 62)
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What does a circular yellow sign with a black cross and the letters “RR” warn of?
- A school crossing ahead
- A railroad crossing ahead
- A road-work zone ahead
- A steep downgrade ahead
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Correct answer: A railroad crossing ahead
The circular yellow sign with a black cross and RR gives advance warning of a railroad crossing.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 84 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 84)
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What should you do when you see the circular yellow sign with the letters “RR”?
- Keep your speed if no train is in sight
- Stop every time and wait for a train to pass
- Sound your horn and continue
- Slow down, and stop if necessary
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Correct answer: Slow down, and stop if necessary
You should slow down and stop if necessary to be sure you can safely clear the crossing.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 84 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 84)
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What words are printed in black on the white crosspieces of the crossbuck sign at a railroad crossing?
- “RAILROAD CROSSING”
- “TRAIN CROSSING”
- “RAILWAY STOP”
- “LOOK FOR TRAINS”
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Correct answer: “RAILROAD CROSSING”
The words RAILROAD CROSSING are printed in black on the white crosspieces of the crossbuck.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 84 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 84)
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How are multiple tracks at a railroad crossing shown?
- On a sign above the crossbuck
- By additional crosspieces on the crossbuck
- On a sign below the crossbuck
- By a second set of flashing lights
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Correct answer: On a sign below the crossbuck
Multiple tracks are shown on a sign below the crossbuck.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 84 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 84)
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When must you stop at a railroad crossing?
- Only when you can see or hear a train approaching the crossing
- Whenever a flagger, signal or gate indicates an approaching train
- Only when you are driving a bus or a vehicle carrying passengers
- Only when the crossing is located outside a city or town
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Correct answer: Whenever a flagger, signal or gate indicates an approaching train
You must stop whenever a flagger, signal or gate indicates an approaching train.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 84 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 84)
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How long must you remain stopped at a railroad crossing when a train is approaching?
- Until you have counted ten seconds after the train’s horn stops
- Until the vehicle ahead of you starts to cross the tracks
- Until you no longer hear the train, even if the gate is down
- Until the gate lifts or the signal or flagger indicates it is safe
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Correct answer: Until the gate lifts or the signal or flagger indicates it is safe
You must stay stopped until the gate lifts or the signal or flagger indicates it is safe to proceed.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 84 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 84)
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How many times in each direction should you check before crossing a railroad track?
- Twice
- Once
- Three times
- Four times
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Correct answer: Twice
The manual advises checking twice in each direction before crossing a railroad track.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 84 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 84)
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What does the DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS sign remind the driver of?
- Not to stop on the railroad track for any reason
- To stop before the railroad track when a train is near
- To stop and look both ways before crossing the track
- Not to stop on the track unless traffic ahead has stopped
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Correct answer: Not to stop on the railroad track for any reason
The sign reminds drivers not to stop on the railroad track for any reason.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)