Level Crossings & Large Vehicles

You must wait whenever: a red light is flashing, the barrier is being lowered (or is already down), or a railway employee waves a white-red-white flag or a red lamp at you — all mean the same thing: stop.

Half-barrier still open but the red light is already flashing? You still wait — don't treat the open gap as permission to cross.

Barriers haven't moved in a while and seem stuck? Don't cross — assume a fault and report it rather than risk it.

A supplementary sign reading "industrial estate, rail vehicles have precedence" means exactly that — rail traffic always wins there, approach at moderate speed regardless of how clear it looks.

Crossing with open barriers: still approach at moderate speed and look along the track. If congestion means you'd have to stop on the rails, wait before the crossing instead of queuing onto it.

A crossing with flashing lights but no barrier, after a train has just passed: wait until the red light actually goes out — don't cross just because the train is gone, another may be close behind.

Crossings with no St. Andrew's Cross at all (common on farm or forest tracks) still require moderate-speed approach and listening for a train's whistle or bell. Unguarded crossings like this are more common on quiet roads and in industrial or port areas.

A sign showing overhead wires at a crossing is just an electrification warning — it's not an instruction to stop.

A red flashing arrow pointing right at a crossing applies only to traffic turning right — not to traffic going straight ahead or turning left.

A truck or farm vehicle turning right into a narrow street will typically swing out to the left first to make the turn — never try to sneak past on the right, even on a bike or motorcycle.

Combine harvesters and similar farm vehicles: some swing far left before turning right; others (with rear-wheel steering) can't swing out at all — watch for either behavior.

A farm trailer carrying a tall load: parts of the load can shift or fall off under braking or turning, and its indicators may be hidden from view by the load itself.

Hazard warning lights on a vehicle ahead have two possible meanings: a breakdown, or a school bus with children boarding/alighting — both call for the same extra caution.

Approaching a school as children are leaving the grounds: expect them to rush onto the road without looking, or cycle out without paying attention — don't assume they'll behave predictably.

Turning right across a cycle lane: you must not impede a cyclist already riding straight through it. This is an easy blind-spot miss — specifically check for a cyclist continuing straight as you turn across their path.