USAREUR Practice Exam

When vehicles are stopped at railroad crossings at night waiting for a train, what should the driver do?

1. Turn on high-beam headlights.

2. Using fog lights is recommended.

3. Keep headlights off to avoid blinding other drivers.

4. Turn on low-beam headlights.

The correct answer is: Turn on low-beam headlights.

When a driver is stopped at a railroad crossing at night waiting for a train, turning on low-beam headlights is the most appropriate action. Low-beam headlights provide adequate visibility for the driver to see their surroundings and any potential hazards without causing glare that could blind oncoming traffic or other drivers in the vicinity. This is particularly important in scenarios where visibility could be limited, ensuring that both the stopped vehicle and the railroad crossing area are visible to other road users. Using high-beam headlights, as suggested in one of the options, can create excessive glare for other motorists and does not provide additional benefit at this specific crossing scenario. Fog lights are designed for low visibility conditions caused by fog, rain, or snow, and using them at a railroad crossing at night can be unnecessary and distracting. Keeping headlights completely off would compromise the driver's ability to assess the situation around them and could lead to dangerous circumstances if another vehicle approaches. Thus, using low-beam headlights strikes a balance by enhancing visibility while maintaining safety for all road users.