What are the duties and responsibilities of a motorist when approaching a public grade crossing?
The general requirement is that a motorist approaching a grade crossing, upon detecting an oncoming train, must stop no less than 15 feet from the nearest rail and wait until the train has cleared the crossing. Cars must yield to oncoming trains at railroad/roadway crossings because trains have a superior right-of-way under the law. This rule usually serves as a baseline when determining responsibility for any accident or injury that occurs at a crossing. However, when a crossing is deemed extra-hazardous, the railroad owes a greater duty of care to protect crossing cars and pedestrians from the danger.
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