What action should you take when approaching a railway level crossing with flashing lights?

• A. Stop only if you see gates down
• B. Stop if signals indicate danger or gates are down; proceed only when safe
• C. Proceed slowly if you are in a hurry
• D. Sound horn and cross quickly

Answer: (C)

Flashing lights at a railway level crossing signal danger and mean you must stop and wait until it’s safe to cross. Treat the flashing lights as a clear warning that a train could be coming, and you should not proceed until the lights have stopped and any gates are fully up if gates are present. The correct approach is to stop whenever the signals indicate danger, then cross only when you can do so safely and without rushing.

Rushing through because you’re in a hurry or trying to save time is dangerous, and it’s not how crossings are intended to be used. Crossing quickly or sounding the horn to “beat” the train can lead to tragedy, and stopping only if gates are down ignores the flashing signals themselves, which already indicate danger.