On a foggy day with poor visibility, you halt at an uncontrolled railway crossing with a school bus. Which strategy is described as best for safety?

• A. Listen very carefully for a train whistle and proceed carefully if you do not hear one
• B. Instruct one of the passengers to walk to the track to see if there are trains coming
• C. Proceed very slowly towards the tracks beyond the normal 6 meter stopping distance to get a closer look
• D. Walk to the track yourself to see if you can cross safely, remembering to shut off the engine and set the brakes first

Answer: (B)

In poor visibility, you must verify that no train is approaching before deciding to cross. The best choice is to have a passenger check visually from a safe vantage so you can confirm the tracks are clear before proceeding. This avoids relying on a train whistle or sounds, which can be muffled or delayed in fog, and it avoids getting closer to or onto the tracks or leaving the bus, all of which raise your risk in a foggy, uncontrolled crossing.

Relying on hearing a whistle is not reliable in fog, because trains can be quiet or far away and you may not hear them in time. Walking to the track yourself or instructing someone to walk to the track increases exposure to moving trains and near-track hazards and is not a safe practice. Proceeding forward beyond the normal stopping distance to get a closer look still imprudently places you at risk if a train is approaching.

If the visual check confirms the way is clear, you can proceed with caution; if not, you stay stopped and wait for a clear view.