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Traffic tip of the week
This week’s tip: Railway crossings
By Cpl. RP Hrehirchuk
Cranbrook RCMP have seen many occasions at the intersection of King Street and Van Horne Street where drivers are confused as to what the two sets of traffic lights really mean. All vehicles must come to a complete stop at Railway Crossings displaying a red signal light without railway crossing gates. Once it is clear and safe, a driver may proceed to the next red lights and stop there. Drivers turning right from King St. onto Van Horne Street must also come to a complete stop at the first red light and then proceed when it is clear and safe to proceed.
Obeying traffic controls
125 Unless otherwise directed by a peace officer or a person authorized by a peace officer to direct traffic, every driver of a vehicle and every pedestrian must obey the instructions of an applicable traffic control device.
Minimum penalty is $121 and 2 points on your driving record.
Railway crossings
185 (1) When a driver is approaching a railway crossing at a time when
(a) a clearly visible electrical or mechanical signal device gives warning of the approach of a railway train,
(b) a crossing gate is lowered or a flagger is giving a signal of the approach or passage of a railway train, or
(c) a railway train is approaching and is within approximately 500 m of a crossing or by reason of its speed or nearness to the crossing is an immediate hazard and emits an audible signal or is visible,
the driver must stop the vehicle within 15 m but not less than 5 m from the nearest rail of the railway, and must not cause or permit the vehicle to proceed until he or she can do so safely.
(2) A person must not drive a vehicle through, around or under a crossing gate or barrier at a railway crossing while the gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.
(3) If a stop sign is erected at a railway crossing, a driver approaching the railway crossing
(a) must stop his or her vehicle
(i) no closer than 5 m, and
(ii) no farther than 15 m from the nearest rail of the railway, and
(b) must not proceed until he or she can do so safely.
(4) Except at a railway spur line or an industrial track in a business or residence district, the driver of
(a) a bus carrying passengers for compensation,
(b) a school bus carrying a child,
(c) a vehicle carrying explosive substances or any poisonous or flammable substance as cargo, or
(d) a vehicle used to carry flammable liquids or gas, whether or not it is then empty,
approaching a railway crossing that is not protected by gates or railway crossing signal lights, unless otherwise directed by a flagger, must
(e) stop his or her vehicle
(i) no closer than 5 m, and
(ii) no farther than 15 m from the nearest rail of the railway,
(f) remaining stopped, must listen and look in both directions along the railway for an approaching train, and for signals indicating the approach of a train, and
(g) must not proceed until he or she can do so safely.
Minimum penalty is $109 and 2 points on your driving record.
Cranbrook RCMP encourages all drivers to obey all railway signs to ensure the safety of motorists and their passengers while crossing railway tracks.
Cpl. R.P. Hrehirchuk is NCO Municipal Traffic Cranbrook RCMP