When approaching a railroad crossing, what must you ensure?

When approaching a railroad crossing, it is essential to ensure that you must clear the tracks completely. This means that once you enter the crossing, you need to be able to drive all the way through without stopping, especially since stopping on the tracks can lead to dangerous situations with approaching trains. It's critical for safety to verify that no train is approaching and to ensure that your vehicle can fully clear the tracks before entering the crossing area.

This understanding emphasizes the importance of being aware of not just the tracks but also the positioning of your vehicle relative to them. Stopping on the tracks can result in serious accidents, so it is vital to have a clear path across the crossing. Moreover, approaching trains may not be audible until they are very close, so ensuring a complete clearing of the tracks before proceeding is paramount.