58 Chapter 4 — Your Driving Railroad Crossing Safety  § 20-142.1. Obedience to railroad signal.  Trains have the right-of-way over all highway traffic including   police, fire and ambulance emergency vehicles. crossing. As you approach the tracks, look both ways and listen  because you may have to stop. Trains can approach a crossing at any  time from any direction. The train always has the right of way. If there  is a stop sign, you must come to a full stop before safely crossing. A yellow and black “RR” sign indicates that you are approaching a railroad  (e)  An employer who knowingly allows, requires, permits, or otherwise  authorizes a driver of a commercial motor vehicle to violate this section shall be  guilty of an infraction. Such employer will also be subject to a civil penalty under  G.S. 20-37.21. (1991, c. 368, s. 1; 2005-349, s. 12.) There are over 5,000 miles of railroad tracks and 6,800 railroad crossings in N.C. A train that is traveling at 55 mph takes more than a mile to come to a stop (d)  Any person who violates any provisions of this section shall be guilty of  an infraction and punished in accordance with G.S. 20-176. Violation of this  section shall not constitute negligence per se.  (c)  When stopping as required at a railroad crossing, the driver shall keep as far  to the right of the highway as possible and shall not form two lanes of traffic  unless the roadway is marked for four or more lanes of traffic.  (b)  No person shall drive any vehicle through, around, or under any crossing  gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while the gate or barrier is closed or is being  opened or closed, nor shall any pedestrian pass through, around, over, or under  any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while the gate or barrier is  closed or is being opened or closed.  (4) An approaching railroad train is plainly visible and is in hazardous  proximity to the crossing.  (3) A railroad train approaching within approximately 1500 feet of the  highway crossing emits a signal audible from that distance, and the railroad  train is an immediate hazard because of its speed or nearness to the crossing; or  (2) A crossing gate is lowered or when a human flagman gives or continues to  give a signal of the approach or passage of a railroad train;  (1) A clearly visible electrical or mechanical signal device gives warning of the  immediate approach of a railroad train;  (a)  Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing  under any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of the vehicle  shall stop within 50 feet, but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the  railroad and shall not proceed until he can do so safely. These requirements apply when: 