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How far from the rail must you stop at a Texas railroad crossing?

Two cars stopped before a railroad crossing with lowered gates and flashing red lights as a freight train approaches.

The gates are down and red lights are flashing at a railroad crossing. Where must you stop?

Answer choices

The answer

Stop not closer than 15 feet and not farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail, and stay stopped until it is permitted and safe to go.

The stop duty applies when a clearly visible signal warns of an approaching train, a gate is lowered, a flagger warns of a train, or a train within about 1,500 feet sounds its signal and is an immediate hazard, or one is plainly visible and close.

It is also an offense to drive around, under or through a crossing gate or barrier that is closed or closing.

Exceptions

  • At a crossing marked only with a crossbuck and no signal, gate or flagger, you must yield to a train in hazardous proximity and go at a reasonable speed, and stop at the stop line (or 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail) if safety requires.

Penalty

A violation is punishable by a fine of $50 to $200, or $100 to $400 if the driver disregarded a flagger's warning.

Why this rule matters for safety

A train cannot swerve and needs a long distance to stop. Staying back from the rail keeps your vehicle clear of the train and of the gate arm.

Official sources

Rules checked against these sources on . Laws change. Confirm with the Texas agency before you rely on this for a legal matter.

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