How far from railroad tracks must you stop when the lights flash in New York?
The red lights are flashing and the gates are down at a railroad crossing. How far from the tracks must you stop in New York?
The answer
Stop at least 15 feet from the tracks. Stay stopped until the lights and bell stop and the gates are completely up.
The New York DMV Driver's Manual says that when red lights flash, gates are lowered, or a bell is ringing, you must stop at least 15 feet (5 meters) from the tracks and wait until the signals have stopped and the gates are fully raised.
At a crossing with only a crossbuck sign, you must yield, and you should not cross unless your whole vehicle will clear every track.
Exceptions
- See the manual for crossing rules; this page does not list exceptions.
Why this rule matters for safety
A train can take a long distance to stop and cannot swerve. Staying back from the tracks keeps your vehicle clear of the train and of the gate arms.
Official sources
- Driver's Manual, Chapter 10: Special Driving Conditions · NYS Department of Motor VehiclesRailroad Crossings: stop at least 15 feet from the tracks, wait for gates to be completely up, yield at crossbuck signs. Page shows no revision date. No penalty is given here because it was not stated on the page read.
Rules checked against these sources on . Laws change. Confirm with the New York agency before you rely on this for a legal matter.
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