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[quote user="Murray"] Most states require a driver to treat the railroad crossing just like a stop light...and instruct you to be prepared to stop in the event of lights flashing etc........ <div style="clear:both;"></div> [/quote] Yes, that is an interesting point.  You have to yield to a train, but you also have to yield to the flashing lights, and they come on without any warning.  There might be a warning of the lights about to activate on the basis of a visible train, but during approach, the lights can activate before a driver sees the train, or even activate if there is no train.  In any case, the lights require the driver to stop.  There are certain circumstances where a driver can proceed after stopping, but the initial stop is required.  The state laws absolutely forbid a driver to pass the red flashing lights without stopping. Yet the laws of physics may prevent a driver from being able to stop quick enough to avoid passing the activated lights.  Under those circumstances, the UMTCD says it is okay for the driver to pass the lights without stopping.  So a driver is supposed to decide whether he or she can or cannot stop, and then act accordingly.  If a driver were to prepare to stop for the red lights should they happen to activate upon approach, he or she would have to slow way down.  Actually you would have to stop in order to be really prepared to not pass the lights if they should happen to activate.  The UMTCD says they do not want drivers to slow down at crossings for that reason.  They say that if you can't stop, you can run the lights.
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