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[quote user="The Butler"] From what I'm reading, Erik, Larry, and Henry are saying that the flashing red lights before the lowering of the gates is the railroad's version of the yellow before the red traffic light.  Bucyrus is saying the motor vehicle code says the red lights are the same as a "Stop" light (red traffic light) the instant they light, gate position being irrelevant. With the discussions on other threads as to crossbucks being the same as a "Yield" sign, I get the impression that all motor vehicles should be slowing to, say, 10 mph before entering a grade crossing (regardless of the posted speed limit) in order to prevent a driver of breaking a traffic law. If these are the facts, then, maybe having a lower speed zone prior to a grade crossing on a high speed road would be a good idea.  Enforcement could be by photo radar in extreme rural areas such as this grade crossing in Nevada. <div style="clear:both;"></div> [/quote] James and Paul,  <o:p></o:p> You both understand the point I am making about this.  <o:p></o:p> On one hand, you could say that the timed interval between the activation and the arrival of the train at the crossing is the grade-crossing equivalent of the yellow aspect of a traffic light.  However, the crossing flashers mean absolute stop.  So comparing a grade crossing to a traffic light, the proper analogy would be a traffic light that changes from green to red and yellow on at the same time.  It would make no sense.  <o:p></o:p> The reason that this convoluted issue does not seem like a problem to drivers is that it is a conflict between the signals and the law, and most people do not know the grade crossing law.  <o:p></o:p> James, you bring up a good point about the crossbucks meaning yield. That yield requirement might correspond to the requirement to be prepared to stop short of the flashers if they should happen to activate.  However, the yield requirement imposed by the crossbucks is a requirement to yield to trains, not a warning that the lights are about to activate.  Once the lights activate, the yield requirement changes to a stop requirement.   <o:p></o:p> Look at this way:  The yield requirement does not necessarily require a driver to slow down.  If a driver has enough visibility to cross while knowing that he or she is not on a collision course with an approaching train, then that driver can cross at the speed limit and still be properly yielding to trains.  However, it would be impossible to cross at the speed limit while being prepared to stop short of the flashers if they should happen to activate.
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