What should you do when approaching railroad crossings with flashing signals?

When approaching railroad crossings with flashing signals, stopping your vehicle is the appropriate action to take. Flashing signals are a clear indication that a train is either approaching or is in the vicinity of the crossing, and that it is not safe to proceed. These signals are designed to alert drivers and ensure their safety by preventing them from trying to cross the tracks while a train is coming.

Stopping allows you to assess the situation and ensures that you are not putting yourself or any passengers at risk. It's crucial to remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and you have clear visibility of the tracks to ensure no trains are approaching. This practice also helps prevent accidents that could have fatal consequences, as trains can come at high speeds and cannot stop quickly if a vehicle is on the tracks.

Continuing to drive without stopping or speeding up to cross quickly disregards the safety measures in place and significantly increases the risk of a collision. Checking for oncoming trains before proceeding is good advice, but it should only occur after you have stopped as indicated by the signals.