The area past the crossing must be large enough for the whole bus to stop clear of the rails. The general rule is to take the bus's length and add 15 feet; if the bus will not fit, do not start across.
Switching on the four-way flashers roughly 200 feet ahead of the tracks lets the drivers behind you know the bus will slow down and stop at the crossing. The bus stops no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail.
A train cannot stop quickly or steer around a bus, so get everyone out and off the tracks at once, even if no train is in sight. Lead them far from the bus at an angle that takes them away from the tracks and toward the direction the train would come from, so debris from a collision is less likely to hit them.
A bus must never stop on railroad tracks, and shifting gears in the middle of a crossing can stall it. When the gate lowers after the crossing has begun, finish crossing, driving through the gate if necessary.
A bus stalled on or next to a railroad crossing must be emptied at once, whether or not a train can be seen or heard. An ABS warning lamp only means the antilock system needs service, and a warm interior on a highway shoulder is not one of the situations that require evacuation.
Once the bus is on the crossing, it has to keep going: stopping or backing up would leave it on the tracks, and changing gears there could stall the engine. If the gate lowers after you have started across, continue through it even if it breaks.
Staying on the tracks is the greatest danger, so once you have started across, keep moving forward even if the gate comes down on the bus. Gates are built to break away, and backing up or stopping only keeps you on the rails longer.
A gate stuck in the down position does not make it safe to cross. If a police officer is at the crossing, follow the officer's directions; if not, call your dispatcher, explain the problem and ask for instructions instead of going around the gates on your own.
A bus stalled on or near the tracks must be evacuated immediately. Lead the students far from the bus at an angle that takes them away from the tracks and toward the direction the train is coming from, so they are not hit by flying debris; staying aboard or bunching up behind the bus leaves them in danger.
Evacuate every student at once and lead them well away from the bus and the tracks, walking at an angle that moves away from the rails and toward the approaching train. That keeps them clear of flying debris if the train strikes the bus.
The stopping point should be within 50 feet of the closest rail but never nearer than 15 feet, at the place that gives the clearest view down the tracks.
Before you start across, be sure there is room past the tracks for the entire bus to sit clear of them if you have to stop. The usual guideline is to allow the length of your bus plus another 15 feet.
A crossing signal that is not working cannot be trusted to warn you of a train, so deciding on your own to go ahead is unsafe. Notify your dispatcher and do exactly what you are told.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
