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A
No stop is required if gates are up and lights are not flashing
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B
YES — a school bus carrying students must stop at ALL railroad crossings regardless of gate position, light status, or train visibility; the mandatory stop is a federal requirement with no exception for absence of warning signals
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C
Stop only if a train can be heard
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D
Stop only at gated crossings when gates are down
Why this is the answer
SCHOOL BUS RAILROAD CROSSING RULES are the most stringent of any vehicle class. ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT: Federal law (49 CFR 392.10) requires school buses carrying passengers — ANY passengers, even one student — to stop at ALL railroad crossings without exception. NO EXCEPTIONS FOR: Gates being up or absent; warning lights not activated; no train visible in either direction; prior knowledge that trains don't use the track frequently. WHY THE ABSOLUTE RULE EXISTS: Warning devices malfunction; trains don't always provide warning at crossings (some tracks are quiet and little-used, then suddenly active); modern trains are extremely quiet relative to their speed; a train traveling 79 mph is 2 miles away 91 seconds before reaching the crossing — deceptively long to appear 'safe' based on a quick look; the consequence of being wrong is catastrophic for all students on the bus. CORRECT PROCEDURE: Approach slowly; stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail; open the front door to maximize sound; look and listen in both directions for at least several seconds; shift to a gear that won't require shifting while crossing; proceed and clear the tracks completely without stopping on them; close the door and proceed; NEVER: Rush through any railroad crossing in a school bus; assume it is safe because you have crossed this track 100 times safely before.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Chapter 12, School Buses, Railroad Crossings, Mandatory Stop