If neither crossing gates are lowered nor a qualified employee is at the crossing, what should you do before crossing?

• A. Proceed with caution
• B. Stop and wait for clearance
• C. Cross quickly
• D. Do not shove through; wait for gates to lower or a qualified employee

Answer: (D)

At a railway crossing, you may cross only when there is an active protection in place and clearance is provided. If the crossing gates are not lowered and no qualified employee is at the crossing, there is no guaranteed safe crossing, because a train could be approaching and you wouldn’t have a reliable signal or authorization to proceed. The correct action is to not shove through; wait for the gates to lower or for a qualified employee to be present and give you the all-clear. Proceeding with caution or crossing quickly without protection isn’t enough, and simply waiting for vague “clearance” isn’t valid unless that clearance comes from the gates being down or a trained employee at the crossing.