Answers: "Slow and Low Vehicles" are variously referred to in the statutes as types of pouring equipment, e.g. any crawler-type tractor, steam shovel, derrick, roller or any other equipment or structure having a run of the mill operating speed of ten miles per hour or less. Some statutes specifically mention six miles per hour or smaller amount and one as low as four miles per hour in this category of vehicle.
"Special Vehicles" as they are referred to in the statutes are vehicle carrying usually passengers for hire and university buses carrying children. Also included under this category are vehicle carrying explosive substances, flammable materials or other types of hazardous materials.
With the exception of Alaska, all of the states require one or more of the vehicle in these two category to come to a full stop before traversing a highway-rail crossing. Federal regulations require every bus transporting passenger and vehicles carrying hazardous materials to stop and to listen and look contained by both directions along the tracks for an approaching train. When it is safe to do so, drivers may cross however, Federal regulations prohibit the drivers from manually shifting gears while moving across the tracks.
For a complete encyclopaedia of vehicles required to stop underneath Federal regulations, see 49 CFR 392.10 (1997).
There is also a listing of "Exempt Crossings" at which the requirements for slow, low or special vehicle have no application. The majority of the requirements are base on Federal regulations which exempt the following crossings from the stopping requirements:
1) A streetcar or railroad crossing which is used exclusively for industrial purposes within a business district.
2) A crossing where on earth a police officer or flagman directs traffic to proceed.
3) A crossing controlled by a functioning highway traffic signal transmitting a green indication which under local ruling permits the vehicle to proceed across the tracks short slowing or stopping.
4) A clearly marked solitary crossing.
5) An industrial or spur line railroad category crossing marked next to a sign reading "EXEMPT". The "exempt" sign must have be erected by or with the consent of local authority. For a index of these exempt crossings. 49 CFR 392.10(b)-1 to -5 (1992).
For example, Exempt Crossings - Pennsylvania exempts operators of special vehicle from stopping at crossings
where traffic is controlled by a police officer, flagman or traffic control signal. Stops are also not required at
any railroad category crossing where a traffic control device give notice that a stop is surplus to requirements. Additionally, stops
are not required at any abandoned crossing clearly tarnished as abandoned and at an industrial or spur strip marked near a sign reading “exempt.” Any such “exempt sign may only be erected next to the consent of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3342(c) 1-2-3-5 (1999).
And for you from Texas, Texas does not require school buses to stop at an cast off railroad crossing that is imperfect with a sign reading “tracks our of service, or an industrial or spur column crossing that is flecked with a sign reading “exempt. Tex. [Transp.] Code Ann.§ 545.2535 (West 1999).
Drivers of vehicle that have an explosive substance or flammable soft as their principal cargo and is moving at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour are required to moderate the speed of the vehicle to 20 miles per hour or less past coming within 200 foot of the nearest rail. After the proper speed price cut, the driver is required listen and look in both directions along the track and for signal indicating the
approach of a train and may no proceed until a determination is made that the course is clear. Tex. [Transp.] Code Ann. § 545.254 (West 1999).
The same portion requires the driver of a vehicle carrying an explosive substance or flammable liquid as its principal goods, before crossing a railroad status crossing on a highway within a municipality to stop the vehicle not closer than 15 foot or farther than 50 feet from the nearest guiderail. After stopping, the driver is required to listen and look in both directions along the track and for signals indicating the approach of a train.
Exempt Crossings - Stops are not required at crossings where on earth a police officer, crossing flagger, or traffic-control signal directs traffic to proceed; or where a flashing signal is installed and does not indicate an approaching train; or at an solitary or exempted crossing that is clearly explicit; or at a streetcar crossing in a business or residential district of a municipality, and at a railroad track used exclusively for industrial switching purposes contained by a business district.
It means institution buses, trucks of hazardous materials, etc., do not have to come to a stop previously crossing the tracks.
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