What Is the Appropriate Action to Take When Approaching a Railroad

Topics:

• Railroad Crossings
• Expressway Driving
• Night Driving
• Driving in Rain, Fog or Snowfall
• How to Drive in Wintertime
• How to Avoid Collisions with Deer
• Driving Emergencies
• Affiliate 10 Quiz

Note:  Practice quizzes are bachelor but for those sections of the manual covering rules of the road (Chapters 4 through 11 and Road Signs).

Even nether the best weather, driving requires your full attention and your best judgment. When special atmospheric condition or hazards occur, attention and judgment become even more important. To be a proficient and safe driver, you must learn how to drive on expressways, at night, in bad weather and when an emergency occurs.

RAILROAD CROSSINGS

Class CROSSINGS

A course crossing is the signal at which train tracks intersect with a roadway and is considered an intersection. Equally y'all arroyo a crossing, ever expect a train. Trains can run on whatever track, at any time, from either management. Never race a train to a crossing, never drive around lowered gates, and practise not end on tracks. (You lot will learn after in the section what to practise if your vehicle stalls or gets stuck on a track.) When crossing tracks, always stay in your lane and in the same gear.

Some grade crossings accept flashing red lights or lowering gates when a train approaches ("agile" grade crossings). When approaching marked, or active, grade crossings, do not go along until the gates are completely raised and the lights are off. It is illegal and dangerous to become around lowered gates or to cross while the lights are still flashing.

Some grade crossing do not have gates or flashing lights. When approaching unmarked, or passive, grade crossings, boring downward and be prepared to cease. Before you cross, exist sure that a train is not coming. If yous come across a train coming, expect until information technology passes, so cross the tracks when it is safe to do and so. If there are multiple tracks, wait until yous can clearly run into down all sets of tracks in both directions for another approaching train before crossing.

Remember that the train yous come across is closer and faster-moving than you think, and be aware that trains cannot cease chop-chop.

Railroad Crossing Warning Sign

COLOR: Xanthous with black letters "RR" and "X" symbol.

Pregnant: There is a railroad crossing ahead. Use caution, and be prepared to end. If you are following a jitney or truck approaching a railroad crossing, be conscientious. About buses and some trucks must stop at railroad crossings. (See "Railroad Crossing Signals".)

Railroad Crossing Signals

 Flashing ruby-red lights, lowered crossing gates and/or a bell at a railroad crossing bespeak that yous must stop, at least fifteen anxiety (v yard) from the tracks. Do not go beyond the tracks until the lights and bell have stopped and the crossing gates are completely up. Do not bulldoze around or under a gate that is moving upwardly or down.

Yield when you see a crossbuck sign, which is a sign shaped like an "X" with "RAILROAD CROSSING" printed on information technology. If in that location are multiple train tracks, the sign volition bear witness the number of tracks.

Look and heed for trains earlier crossing whatever railroad tracks. If an approaching train is near enough or going fast enough to exist a danger, you cannot become beyond the tracks, even if they have no signals or the signals are not working.

Exercise not, nether whatever circumstances, endeavor to cross any railroad tracks unless you are certain your entire vehicle will clear all of the tracks at the crossing. You cannot go across whatever railroad tracks unless there is room for your vehicle on the other side. If other traffic prevents you from going fully beyond, wait and get across only when there is room.

Schoolhouse buses with or without passengers, other buses with passengers on board and vehicles with explosives or flammable cargo must cease at all railroad crossings. Remember those rules if you lot are following i of these vehicles.

Pavement Markings

Sometimes, grade crossings do non have flashing red light signals or gates. Pavement markings will often prove you that a grade crossing is ahead. Stay behind the terminate line while waiting for a train to pass.

Stalling on Railroad Tracks

What should you do if you stall on the tracks, for any reason?

1. GET OUT! (That includes EVERYONE in the car, children, babies, an elderly passenger, etc.)

two. Become away from the tracks, even if you do not encounter a railroad train.

3. Locate the Emergency Notification Organisation sign and call the number provided, telling them almost the stalled vehicle.

Run toward the general direction the train is coming from. If a train is approaching, run toward the train just away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle. If you run "downwardly the rail," in the same direction every bit the train, you tin be hit with debris when the train hits your vehicle.

EXPRESSWAY DRIVING

"Throughway" ways any divided highway where traffic moves in one management on two or more lanes. You commonly enter or exit the throughway on ramps (controlled-access). The speed limit is unremarkably 55 mph (88 km/h), but tin be posted at 65 mph (105 km/h) in some rural areas. Examples or expressways are the New York State Thruway, major interstate routes and parkways.

Before you travel on an expressway, identify your entrance and exit points on a road map.  Know where to get on and off the expressway and exist prepared to get into the correct lanes for your archway and exit. If you enter an expressway going a different management than you lot intended, or at the wrong get out, stay on the freeway until the next leave. After you exit the expressway, you lot can effigy out where you need to go and (if necessary) get back on the superhighway. It IS DANGEROUS to back up on an archway or exit ramp, or to try to cross a median.

Unless at that place is a Terminate or YIELD sign or traffic light on the archway ramp, use the ramp to advance to thruway speed and blend with traffic. Indicate, so look over your shoulder for traffic already on the expressway. If necessary, slow downwardly to safely merge into traffic.

If the entrance lane is too short to let acceleration to expressway speed, the safest method to enter is to stop and wait for a large infinite in traffic. Then enter the pike and advance quickly. To avoid conflicts with other entrance lane traffic, terminate when necessary and merge into expressway traffic equally soon equally possible.

As yous drive on the throughway, brand certain to bespeak all lane changes and check over your shoulder to make sure y'all will non cutting off whatsoever vehicles behind you. Make sure your directional bespeak goes off after y'all change lanes.

Remain warning for traffic that enters ahead. If possible, move from the correct lane when yous approach the entrances to allow more room for traffic entering the expressway from the ramp.

To prevent a last-infinitesimal lane change, check the destination and exit signs, and get into the correct lane for your exit ahead of fourth dimension. Brand certain to signal your exit at least 100 feet (xxx m) earlier y'all achieve the exit ramp. When you are on the go out ramp, decrease your speed. There is often a lower speed limit for the ramp.

Afterward you go out an expressway, look for speed limit signs and check your speedometer to be certain you are driving within the posted limit. Yous are non likely to be on a 55 mph (88 km/h) road.

Expressway driving ordinarily combines higher speeds with heavy traffic. The higher speed and amount of traffic require you to think faster and handle your vehicle in a more efficient manner than in most other weather condition. On long trips, program frequent rest stops. On a bright day, sunglasses can reduce glare and eye fatigue.

NIGHT DRIVING

About 90% of your decisions are based on what you lot see. At night, you must utilise extra caution to brand upwardly for reduced visibility. You should also know that the power to meet well at night decreases with age.

Night driving is more unsafe considering the distance y'all tin can see alee or to the side is reduced. You should drive slower than you would in daylight, specially in areas that are non known or on narrow roads with many curves. Your headlights embrace about 350 feet alee. It is important that yous drive at a speed that allows you to finish safely within that distance. This is called "driving within the range" of your headlights.

The constabulary requires you to use your headlights from i-half 60 minutes after the dominicus sets to one-half hour before the sun rises, when visibility is less than i,000 feet (300 m) and when you use your windshield wipers to clear pelting, snow or sleet. Turn your headlights on at dawn, dusk and in fog. Fifty-fifty when headlights practice not help y'all run across in low-light periods, they make it easier for other drivers and pedestrians to come across your vehicle. Do non utilise parking lights or daytime lights as a replacement. Headlights do a better job. If an oncoming driver flashes headlights at you during a menstruation of low visibility, information technology means your vehicle was hard to come across and you should turn on your headlights.

Be considerate when yous use your high beams. Your headlights must exist on low beam when y'all are within 500 feet (150 chiliad) of an oncoming vehicle or within 200 feet (sixty m) of a vehicle ahead of you, even if the vehicle ahead is in a different lane. You should too dim your lights for pedestrians who approach you. Any fog or driving lights your vehicle has must exist bundled, adjusted or operated to avoid dangerous glare to other drivers.

If an approaching driver does not dim the headlights, wink your headlights to high beam for a 2d, and then return to low axle. To assistance avoid the glare of approaching high beams, motion your eyes to the right. Use the route edge as a guide until the budgeted vehicle passes past.

To reduce glare from the lights of following vehicles, switch your inside rear view mirror to the "dark" position.

Light from inside your vehicle or from street lights makes it harder for you to come across the route ahead. Keep the interior roof light off and dim the dashboard lights. Adjust your visors to reduce glare from lights from in a higher place.

A dirty windshield increases glare from approaching headlights. Make certain your lights and windshield drinking glass are clean for night driving.

DRIVING IN RAIN, FOG OR Snowfall

A bit of rain, snow or ice makes roads slippery. Wet leaves tin can be slippery and chancy. Reduced speed and increased post-obit altitude improve your safety nether these conditions (see Chapter 8).  Take boosted intendance on curves, turns and expressway ramps.

In heavy pelting, your tires tin can brainstorm to ride on the h2o that is on top of the road pavement. This is called "hydroplaning" and tin can cause complete loss of traction and control of steering. Hydroplaning usually occurs at higher speeds, but it likewise can occur if your tires are tread worn or not inflated properly. When there is heavy rain, information technology always makes sense to drive more slowly. If your vehicle begins to lose traction, decrease your speed even more. Good tires with deep tread help to forestall hydroplaning.

Rain, fog or snow make it harder to see through your windshield, and difficult for other drivers to see you. New York Land law requires yous to turn on your headlights when the weather conditions crave the use of windshield wipers to clear rain, snowfall, sleet or fog. "Daytime lights" do not qualify every bit headlights.

Headlights on high beams reflect rain, fog and snow as it falls. This makes it even harder for you lot to run into. For amend visibility during these weather conditions, keep your headlights on low beam. Reduce your speed. Signal your turns further alee of fourth dimension to requite other drivers and roadway users more alert. Brake early when y'all decrease speed backside some other vehicle or come to an intersection stop.

Some vehicles have front fog lights or front and back fog lights, for use when heavy fog or similar hazardous atmospheric condition conditions restrict visibility. In New York State, all fog lights must exist correctly installed and of a type approved by the Commissioner of DMV.  Front fog lights tin can be amber or white in color. Dorsum fog lights must be reddish and can exist larger than the normal back lights - they will requite advance warning of the presence of your vehicle to the drivers behind y'all. When visibility improves, you can switch off your fog lights to reduce the glare that can bother other drivers.

HOW TO Drive IN Wintertime

Winter is the most hard flavor in which to drive. In addition to snow and ice on the roads, there are fewer hours of daylight.

Before winter weather arrives, make sure your vehicle is in skilful condition.

Make sure your vehicle has good snowfall tires. Put them on the vehicle before the first storm. Never combine radial and not-radial tires on the same vehicle. Tires with metal studs tin be used in New York State simply from October 16 through Apr 30.

During ice or snow storms, do not drive unless you must. If you must drive, first clear the ice and snow from your vehicle. This includes the headlights and back lights, the windshield wipers and all of the windows. Make sure the windshield washer reservoir is filled with a cleaning solution that resists freezing.

Drive slowly. Even if your vehicle has good traction in water ice and snow, other drivers will travel with caution. Do not suspension the flow of traffic by driving faster than other vehicles.

In a rear-wheel drive vehicle, you tin can normally feel a loss of traction or the start of a slide. With a front-wheel drive vehicle, there might not be a warning. Although front-wheel bulldoze and four-wheel drive vehicles normally handle ameliorate in ice and snow, they exercise non have flawless traction; skids can occur without a alert. Do not let the ability to better handle a front-wheel or iv-bike vehicle make you drive faster than the conditions dictate.

The best method to recover from a slip is the aforementioned for both forepart and rear-wheel drive vehicles.

If your rear wheels start to sideslip:

• Plough the steering wheel in the direction the vehicle is trying to go. If your rear wheels slide left, steer left. If they slide correct, steer right.
• If your rear wheels start to slide in the other management as yous recover, turn the steering bike toward that side. You might have to turn the wheel left and right several times to get your vehicle completely controlled.
• If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS), keep your pes with even pressure level on the brake pedal. If your vehicle does non accept ABS, pump the pedal carefully. Pump more rapidly only as your motorcar slows down. If you restriction hard with regular brakes, it volition make the situation worse.

If your front wheels skid:

• Have your pes off the gas and shift to neutral or push in the clutch, but practise non try to immediately steer.
• As the wheels slip sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As traction returns, plow the wheel in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch and accelerate carefully.

To prevent skids on snow and ice, brake early, carefully and gently. "Press" your brakes in slow, steady strokes. Allow the wheels to keep turning. If they begin to lock up, decrease pressure on the brake pedal. As your vehicle decreases speed, you tin also shift into a lower gear.

When sleet, freezing rain or snow begin to fall, think that bridges, ramps and overpasses will freeze first. As well know that slippery spots may remain after route workers have removed the snow.

HOW TO AVOID COLLISIONS WITH DEER

Two-thirds of all deer-vehicle collisions occur during the months of October, November and December. This is also the time when deer brood and when they travel the about. Daily deer action is highest at dawn and sunset, which ofttimes is the highest time of travel for motor-vehicle commuters. Deer travel in groups - if you see one, expect more.  Areas where there take been many deer-vehicle collisions often are marked with deer crossing signs. The New York State Section of Environmental Conservation recommends these precautions motorists can take to reduce the chance of a deer hitting:

• Be careful when y'all drive at dawn and sunset; this is when commuter visibility is bad and the deer are almost active.
• The risk of deer-vehicle collisions increases when deer movements increase during breeding season in October, November and December.
• Decrease speed when you approach deer near roadsides. Deer tin can "bolt" or change direction at the terminal minute.
• If you meet a deer go across the route, decrease speed and be conscientious. Deer travel in groups, look other deer to follow.
• Use emergency lights or wink your headlights to warn other drivers when deer are seen on or near the route.
• Utilise circumspection on roadways marked with deer crossing signs. These signs are put in areas that take had a big number of deer-vehicle collisions.

DRIVING EMERGENCIES

The almost important rule in any emergency is do not panic. You have a meliorate take a chance in an emergency if you practise not let fear have over. In well-nigh emergencies, you volition have a second or two to recollect before yous act.

Here is what to do in different emergency situations:

TIRE BLOWOUT - A thumping sound can be a alarm that a blowout is about to occur. If you hear it, get safely off the route and cheque your tires. If a tire blows out, hold the steering wheel tight and slowly accept your foot off the gas pedal. If your vehicle skids, handle it as you would on water ice or snowfall. Do not employ your brake until your vehicle is controlled. Leave the road when it is safe to exercise so.

LOSS OF A Cycle - Handle this as y'all would a blowout. A thump or noise in the bike can be a warning sound. Exit the roadway and end. Then check your vehicle or take it checked.

STEERING FAILURE - If your vehicle of a sudden volition non respond when you steer, slowly take your foot off the gas pedal, plow on your emergency lights and go along your human foot off the brake pedal while it is safe to do so. The balance of the vehicle volition allow it to go on going straight, but a sudden change in speed could send information technology out of control. As the vehicle decreases speed, you can restriction very carefully to bring it to a stop..

Restriction FAILURE - If your brake pedal suddenly goes to the flooring, effort pumping information technology to increase pressure. If that does not help, utilise your emergency or parking brake - but utilise it gently. If yous shift to a lower gear, it volition assistance your vehicle subtract speed.

HEADLIGHT FAILURE - If your headlights suddenly exit, endeavour your emergency lights, parking lights and directional signals. These may keep to work and tin give you plenty light to exit the roadway safely. If your headlights begin to dim, bulldoze to a service station or pull off the road and go for help.

STUCK GAS PEDAL - Hook your shoe nether the pedal and see if you tin free information technology. If not, shift into neutral and employ the restriction to slow your vehicle and become off the route. Do non turn off the ignition if your vehicle has ability steering or a steering wheel that has a cavalcade that locks, considering if you do, you volition lose your power steering or non take the ability to steer at all.

RUNNING OFF THE PAVEMENT - If your wheels movement off the pavement, do not pull the steering wheel back. Ease your foot off the gas pedal and brake gently.  When your vehicle has decreased speed, cheque for traffic backside y'all, so turn carefully back onto the pavement.

VEHICLE Budgeted HEAD-ON IN YOUR LANE - Subtract speed, pull over to the right and audio your horn to warn the other driver. Practice not turn into the left lane. If you lot exercise, the other driver may suddenly recover and pull back into that lane, causing a head-on collision.

STALLING ON RAILROAD TRACKS - If a train approaches, release your seat belt, go out the vehicle and get as far away as yous can from the tracks. Run toward the full general direction the train is coming from. If yous run "down the track" in the same direction as the railroad train, you can be hit with debris when the train hits your vehicle. When yous are completely sure no trains are coming, open your window to listen for a train and try to start the engine. If that fails, shift your vehicle into neutral and push information technology from the tracks.

GOING INTO WATER - A vehicle will normally bladder for a while, and you should have fourth dimension to remove yourself before it starts to sink. Release your seat belt and escape through a window. An open door would cause water to rush in and the car could plough over on top of y'all.

If the vehicle sinks before you can remove yourself, get into the back seat. An air pocket can form there as the weight of the engine pulls the vehicle down front first. When the vehicle settles, take a breath and escape through a window. When yous rising air force per unit area will build in your lungs. Let information technology out in small breaths through your nose or lips as y'all surface. Practise not agree your breath tight or try to blow air out; just allow the air to escape in a natural way.

Burn - If y'all see smoke come from under the hood, pull off the route and park your vehicle. Turn off the ignition. Become away from the car and phone call the fire department. It is dangerous to endeavor to fight the fire yourself.

BLOCKED VISION - If your hood opens suddenly or your vision through the windshield becomes blocked by another object or wipers that take failed, yous can open the side window so you tin see. Turn on your emergency lights and carefully pull your vehicle off the route and park information technology.

QUESTIONS

Before yous become on to Chapter xi, make sure you lot can answer these questions:

• What color and shape is a railroad crossing alarm sign?
• What should you do if you lot miss an expressway get out?
• What are superhighway entrance ramps used for?
• What should you lot practice if an entrance ramp is curt?
• When should you lot signal that you are exiting an expressway?
• What should yous bank check for when you leave an superhighway?
• Why is expressway driving dissimilar from normal driving?
• What is the master reason dark driving is more difficult than daytime driving?
• Driving within the range of your headlights indicates y'all can stop your vehicle inside about how many feet?
• What should yous practise if you are blinded by headlights on an approaching vehicle?
• Is it best to go on your headlights on high axle or low beam when there is fog, pelting or falling snow?
• Which direction should yous turn your steering wheel to go out of a sideslip?
• How should you utilise your brake pedal on a slippery route?
• What is the almost important rule to remember in whatever emergency?
• What should you practice if 1 of your tires blows out?
• What is the outset thing yous should practice if your brakes fail?
• What should yous practice if your wheels motion off the pavement?

End of Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Quiz

< Chapter 9 | Contents | Chapter 11 >

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Source: https://dmv.ny.gov/about-dmv/chapter-10-special-driving-conditions

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