Why do some vehicles have to stop at railroad crossings?

Question

There are some vehicles that have a sign on back that says it stops at all railroad crossings. They are usually buses. Why do they need to stop?

Answer 1

US Department of Transportation (DOT) safety rules require that all school buses and trucks carrying hazardous materials like LP gas or fuels must come to a full stop and check for approaching trains before crossing any level grade crossing.

Answer 2

State laws require some vehicles to stop before crossing

Answer 3

lots of kids, fuel tankers need to stop also.

Answer 4

If they carry people or explosive materials it is a law. Some rail crossings are called no blow, which means the township  or town requested no whistle be blown. Although it is up to the guy driving a few hundred thousand tons of train to use it in an emergency, there is a chance no whistle will be blown. All about safety.

Answer 5

Federal law. Any vehicle transporting passengers (like a bus) or carrying hazardous materials.

Answer 6

It is a law and then others do this because of company policies.

Answer 7

Well.... most everybody is real close....

All School Buses, regardless of size, or passenger load are required by federal law to stop no greater than 50 feet, but not closer than 15 feet to the nearest rail, open the door, look and listen for trains and then proceed with caution over the tracks without shifting the transmission (if it's a manual shift).

Any "Placarded" (hazardous material signage) load in any size truck is required to do the same.  (except for the opening of the door).  This would include a pickup carrying something like compressed air tanks or oxygen tanks that require it to be placarded.  

There are a few exceptions to the rule....   if the railroad crossing is controled by a traffic signal, ( the track is running through an intersection that has a traffic light that controls all directions of road traffic) they do not have to stop.  If it is marked "exempt" they also do not have to stop.

I hope this helps....

Answer 8

Most vehicles containing hazardous materials have to stop because if a train hits them, trouble in paradise, so to speak. School buses have to stop mostly because if that many children get hit by a train, their parents can be considered hazardous.

Answer 9

Even if a YIELD sign or just a Crossbuck sign is posted at a highway-rail grade crossing, the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR 392.10) requires drivers of vehicles carrying passengers for hire, school buses carrying students, and vehicles carrying hazardous materials to stop before crossing the tracks.

State or local laws or regulations establish which crossings may be posted as "exempt" from this requirement to stop except when a train, locomotive, or other railroad equipment is approaching or occupying the highway-rail grade crossing, or the driver's view is blocked.