Railroad-Highway Crossings
A collision between a train and a school bus is among the worst possible outcomes for a driver, and trains cannot stop to avoid one. This chapter explains the mandatory stop, the stop-look-listen routine, how to cross without stopping on the tracks, and what to do in the rare emergency of a bus stalled on the rails. The rules exist because the consequences of a mistake are catastrophic.
The Mandatory Stop
School buses are required to stop at railroad crossings whether or not they are carrying students, with only limited exceptions such as exempt crossings or when directed by an officer or signal. Stopping at the right distance gives the driver the best view down the tracks. This procedure is done every time, at every non-exempt crossing.
Stop, Look, and Listen
At the stop, the driver must actively look and listen for an approaching train, not merely glance. Opening the service door and driver's window and quieting the bus lets the driver hear a train's horn or bell. Because trains look slower and farther away than they are, the driver must be certain before proceeding.
Crossing the Tracks
Once the driver is certain no train is coming, the bus crosses without stopping and without shifting gears. The right gear is selected before the crossing so the bus pulls all the way across in one motion. The driver never starts across unless the entire bus can clear the tracks with room to spare on the far side.
If the Bus Is Trapped on the Tracks
In the rare event the bus stalls or is trapped on the tracks with a train coming, the only priority is getting everyone off and far away immediately. Evacuees move toward the oncoming train but at an angle away from the tracks, so that collision debris, which flies forward, is thrown away from them. No one stays to restart the bus.
Last updated: July 2026