What must a bus driver do at a railroad crossing?

BUS RAILROAD CROSSING PROCEDURE: Buses (and certain other vehicles) must STOP at railroad crossings. PROCEDURE: Stop between 15 and 50 feet before the nearest rail; LISTEN and LOOK in both directions for trains; many require opening the service door (and sometimes a window) to listen better; do not proceed until certain no train is approaching and the bus can cross completely without stopping; do NOT shift gears while crossing (cross in a gear that won't require shifting on the tracks); do not stop on the tracks; ensure there is room on the other side to completely clear the crossing before starting across; EXCEPTIONS: Some crossings are exempt (marked 'Exempt' — e.g., abandoned or industrial tracks with signals); WHY: A bus full of passengers stalled or struck on tracks is catastrophic; the mandatory stop and look/listen procedure prevents collisions with trains; PASSENGER BUSES carry this special requirement (like school buses and hazmat vehicles); the driver must know the proper stopping distance, the look/listen procedure, and the rule against shifting while crossing; railroad crossing procedure is a key passenger endorsement topic with serious safety implications.