If you hear a bell signal at a highway-rail crossing but there are no lights, how should you proceed?

• A. Proceed at normal speed without slowing.
• B. Treat it as a warning; proceed with caution and confirm the presence of trains and signaling.
• C. Stop immediately and wait for lights to activate.
• D. Ignore the bell and proceed through the crossing.

Answer: (B)

Hearing a bell at a highway-rail crossing signals a warning that a train may be approaching. When there are no lights, you can’t rely on flashing signals to tell you when it’s safe, so you must actively assess the crossing. The correct approach is to treat the bell as a warning and proceed with caution: reduce speed, look both ways, listen for any approaching trains, and verify that the signaling is functioning and that no train is near before crossing. If you do spot a train or if signals indicate danger, stop. Moving at normal speed or ignoring the bell isn’t safe, and waiting for lights isn’t applicable here since there are no lights.