Alberta Class 7 Practice

Flashing red light signals and bell: Red light signals are used with railway signs at many railway crossings. Stop when the lights begin to flash and the bells ring to indicate a train is approaching. The driver of the vehicle nearest the crossing must stop at least five metres back from the nearest rail. Do not proceed until the lights and bells have stopped, and the train has passed or has come to a complete stop. If there is more than one track, be sure all tracks are clear before crossing. Gates (arms), lights, and bells: Gates are used with red light signals and bells at some railway crossings. You must remain stopped until the gates are raised, the lights stop flashing, and the bells stop ringing. Follow these safety tips when driving near railway tracks: • Do not get trapped on the railway tracks at a railway crossing. Wait on the approach to the crossing and cross only when you are sure you can clear the crossing. • When the last car of a train passes the crossing, make sure that another train is not coming before you move ahead. A second train can come on another track from a different direction. You may not be able to hear the second train because of the noise of the first one. • Never drive around the gates. If the gate is down, is raising, or is lowering, do not cross the tracks. • If your vehicle has a standard (manual) transmission, do not change gears while crossing the tracks. If you cannot complete the shift, your vehicle could be stalled on the tracks. • If your vehicle stalls on a railway crossing, get everyone out of the vehicle and away from the track immediately. If a train is coming, move well away from your vehicle and away from the tracks. If possible, go in the direction where the train is approaching. This will prevent you from being hit with flying debris if the train hits the stalled vehicle. • During poor weather or at night, be alert for advance railway warning and railway signs. Drive at a speed that will allow you to be able to stop within the distance clearly lit by your headlights. Remember, it may take a kilometre or more for a train to stop, even under full emergency braking. The safety of you and your passengers depends entirely on you as the driver.

Text extracted from the PDF for reference and may contain layout artefacts. The official PDF is authoritative.

Source: Driver's Guide: cars and light trucks, Spring 2026. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Alberta.