Everyone wants to be a careful driver and keep themselves and those around them safe on the road. In recent times many of us have become far more conscious about road safety and for the majority of us things like drinking and driving would be completely unthinkable. Many drivers take regular breaks to ward off tiredness and due to the growth of the speed camera most of us avoid travelling at fast speeds. However, many drivers are less conscious about rail safety.
However as cities and towns grow roads are constantly changing, which means the addition of new road signs and markings. In conjunction with this, road features which used to be more commonplace, such as railway crossings, are becoming rarer. Because of this people are often confused when they do come upon a railway crossing and are often not entirely sure what they should do in this situation.
As so many drivers are unfamiliar with railway crossings it can mean that a lot of unnecessary accidents occur. The first thing driver need to take into consideration is that railway crossings could crop up unannounced on long country roads, so be aware of your surroundings and keep alert as to what is ahead of you.
If you see a railway crossing or a sign for one up ahead check to see if there is a car behind you. Do not break suddenly and give yourself enough time to come to a controlled stop. This will avoid a rear end collision but also greatly reduce the chances of you being pushed onto the tracks by the car behind you in the event of a collision. You should try to stop about 5 metres away from the tracks where possible.
This is not only safer because it avoids the possibility of your car being pushed onto the tracks by another vehicle, but also wards against any rocks or debris thrown up by the passing train hitting your windscreen and causing a chip or a crack.
If there is no train approaching and the barriers which stop you from crossing the tracks are up then it is safe to cross. You should do this in a low gear and at a steady pace which will help prevent the possibility of your vehicle stalling on the tracks.
If you follow these tips then you should avoid any danger at railway crossings. Remember, the gap between you encountering a railway crossing may be years apart but if you remember these pointers and drive sensibly you can easily avoid any accidents when you do come across a railway crossing.