Railroad crossings, work zones and vehicle size limits

Key points

1. Vehicles carrying passengers for hire, school buses and vehicles carrying explosives or flammable liquids must always stop at railroad crossings.

   Source: Handbook p. 48

   “Vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings include: • All vehicles carrying passengers for hire • All school buses • All vehicles carrying explosives or flammable liquids”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 48

2. A crossbuck alone is like a yield sign; you must stop if a train is approaching.

   Source: Handbook p. 48

   “When displayed alone, you should treat a crossbuck as a yield sign and the decision to stop or cross the tracks is yours. You must stop if there is a train approaching.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 48

3. With active bells, lights or gates, stop and wait until the warning ends or an officer or flagman waves you on.

   Source: Handbook p. 48

   “When there are active warning bells, flashing lights, or lights and gates, you must stop and not proceed until the active warning is canceled or you are directed to proceed by a law enforcement officer or railroad flagman.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 48

4. It is illegal to drive around a crossing gate that is down.

   Source: Handbook p. 48

   “It is illegal to drive around a crossing gate that is down.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 48

5. Never start across unless you can clear the tracks without stopping, and do not shift gears on the tracks.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “Avoid stopping or shifting gears while crossing railroad tracks. A driver should never begin to cross railroad tracks unless the tracks can be cleared without stopping.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 49

6. If stuck with a train coming, get away and run at a 45 degree angle from the tracks toward the oncoming train.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “run at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks in the direction of the oncoming train.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 49

7. A flashing arrow board showing no direction means use caution; no lane change is required.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “A flashing arrow board not indicating a direction either way is a signal to use caution but does not require a driver to move to another lane.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 47

8. Stop when a flagger holds the orange or red flag horizontally into traffic.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “You must stop when a flagger extends a fluorescent orange/red flag in a horizontal position into the line of traffic.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 47

9. Without a special permit, a vehicle may be at most 8 feet 6 inches wide.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “The maximum width of any vehicle that may be operated without a special permit is eight feet and six inches.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 49

Numbers to know

Recognize these signs

3 questions from the Indiana practice test

1. 1. At a railroad crossing, what should a driver do when active warning bells, flashing lights, or gates are operating?

   1. Stop only if another vehicle has already crossed
   2. Cross quickly before the gate reaches the pavement
   3. Treat the signals as advisory and proceed if no train is visible
   4. Stop and wait until the warning is canceled or an authorized person directs movement
   Show answer

   Stop and wait until the warning is canceled or an authorized person directs movement. Active bells, flashing lights, or gates require a complete stop and no movement until the warning is canceled or a law enforcement officer or railroad flagman directs the driver to proceed. A train can be hidden or its speed misjudged, so the absence of an immediately visible locomotive does not make the crossing safe. Racing the gate is especially dangerous. The visible cue is any active warning device, which means wait for a clear release rather than making a personal estimate.

2. 2. How far from the nearest rail must certain Indiana vehicles stop at a railroad crossing?

   1. No closer than 5 feet
   2. Between 10 and 25 feet
   3. Not closer than 15 feet and not farther than 50 feet
   4. At least 100 feet away
   Show answer

   Not closer than 15 feet and not farther than 50 feet. Vehicles in the listed required categories must stop not closer than 15 feet and not farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail. The rule applies to vehicles such as school buses, passenger for hire vehicles, and those carrying explosives or flammable liquids. The shorter distances in the other choices either put the vehicle too close or describe no rule in the passage. Remember the two boundaries together: fifteen is the minimum gap and fifty is the maximum stopping distance.

3. 3. What is the maximum width of a vehicle that may operate on Indiana public highways without a special permit?

   1. 7 feet 6 inches
   2. 8 feet
   3. 8 feet 6 inches
   4. 10 feet
   Show answer

   8 feet 6 inches. Indiana's tractor trailer section lists 8 feet 6 inches as the maximum width for a vehicle operating without a special permit. The eight foot choice omits the additional six inches, while 7 feet 6 inches is smaller and 10 feet exceeds the stated limit. This measurement concerns the public highway equipment limit, not the width of an ordinary lane. Keep the three dimensions separate when studying: width is 8 feet 6 inches, height is 13 feet 6 inches, and weight is 80,000 pounds.

Source: the Indiana Driver's Manual, Chapter 7: Safe Vehicle Operation. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.