You're stopped at a railroad crossing in Oregon and there's no painted stop line. How far must you stop from the nearest rail?
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A.
5 feet.
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B.
15 feet. Correct
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C.
50 feet.
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D.
Just behind the lowered gate arm.
The answer is "15 feet."
If you are required to stop at a railroad crossing and there is no stop line, stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail. The buffer accounts for train cars that extend past the rails and gives you a safety margin if you misjudge the train's path.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. 5 feet.
The minimum is 15 feet, not 5. Misreading: Underestimates the rail buffer, treating the 15-foot minimum as a much shorter clearance.
C. 50 feet.
50 feet is the no-parking distance from a railroad crossing, not the stop-from-the-rail distance. Misreading: Confuses the 50-foot no-parking distance from a railroad crossing with the stop-from-the-rail minimum.
D. Just behind the lowered gate arm.
The 15-foot rule is measured from the nearest rail, not from the gate. The manual forbids driving around or under a gate, but that is a separate rule. Misreading: Treats the crossing gate's position as the stopping reference, confusing the rule against driving around or under a gate with the 15-foot distance from the nearest rail.
This question tests your knowledge of Sharing the Road in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Railroad Crossings, Light Rail & Street Cars," p.64..
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