A highway-rail grade crossing is an intersection where a road, sidewalk, or pathway meets railroad tracks at the same level; gates, lights, signs, and crossing conditions should be treated as safety information, not as a conclusion about responsibility.

Crossing controls vary

The Federal Railroad Administration’s grade-crossing safety overview distinguishes active controls such as lights, bells, and gates from passive controls such as crossbucks, yield or stop signs, and pavement markings. A public or private crossing, its controls, visibility, maintenance, and local conditions can all differ.

Use the emergency notification information

The FRA explains that a blue-and-white Emergency Notification System sign at a grade crossing provides a railroad emergency contact number and a crossing identification number. In an emergency or an unsafe condition, communicate the location and nature of the event to the appropriate emergency or railroad contact rather than attempting to cross or investigate the tracks.

Preserve information after an event

  • The crossing location, crossing identification number, signs, signals, gates, weather, lighting, and roadway conditions
  • Photos, video, report details, train or vehicle information, and witness contact information
  • Emergency-response, medical, repair, insurance, and communication records
  • The original records and dates rather than a reconstructed account

Sources