Railroad sign · MUTCD R15-1
Railroad Crossing (Crossbuck)
You are at the railroad tracks. The crossbuck is a regulatory sign that works like a Yield sign: trains always have the right-of-way.
- Shape
- X-shaped crossbuck
- Color
- White with black letters RAILROAD CROSSING
What to do
Slow down, look and listen in both directions, and be ready to stop. If a train is coming, stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail and wait until it has passed and you can see the tracks are clear. A sign below the crossbuck may show how many tracks there are; check each one.
Where you see it
Right at the railroad crossing, on the right side of the road, sometimes with flashing lights and gates.
Test trap
A crossbuck alone does not mean you must stop every time, but it does mean you must yield to any train and stop if one is approaching. Never try to beat a train or drive around lowered gates.
Memory tip: White X at the tracks = Yield to the train.
Practice question
At a railroad crossing marked only with a white X-shaped crossbuck sign, you must:
- Yield to trains and be ready to stop
- Always stop for 30 seconds
- Speed up to cross quickly
- Stop only at night
Answer: A. The crossbuck works like a YIELD sign: slow down, look and listen, and stop if a train is coming.
NY Driver's Manual, ch. 10 (Special Driving Conditions)