2025 Georgia Codes – Page 307

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, the driver of any motor vehicle carrying pas-
sengers for hire, any bus, whether or not operated for hire, or of any school bus, whether carrying any school
children or empty, or of any vehicle carrying any hazardous material listed in Section 392.10 of Title 49 of
the Code of Federal Regulations as those regulations currently exist or as they may in the future be amended
or in regulations adopted by the commissioner of public safety, before crossing at grade any track or tracks
of a railroad, shall stop such vehicle within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of such rail-
road and while so stopped shall listen and look in both directions along such track for any approaching train
and for signals indicating the approach of a train and shall not proceed until he or she can do so safely. After
stopping as required in this Code section and upon proceeding when it is safe to do so, the driver of any such
vehicle shall cross only in such gear of the vehicle that there will be no necessity for changing gears while
traversing such crossing, and the driver shall not shift gears while crossing the track or tracks.
(b) No stop need be made at any such crossing where:
(1) Traffic is directed to proceed by a police officer, a firefighter, or a railroad flagman;
(2) A traffic-control signal directs traffic to proceed;
(3) The highway crosses an abandoned railroad track which is marked with a sign indicating its abandoned
status, where such signs are erected by or under the direction of the local or state authority having jurisdic-
tion over the highway; or
(4) The highway crosses an industrial siding or spur track marked “exempt,” where such signs are erected by
or under the direction of the local or state authority having jurisdiction over the highway.

(a) No person shall operate or move a crawler-type tractor, steam shovel, derrick, roller, or any equipment or
structure having a normal operating speed of ten miles per hour or less or a vertical body or load clearance
of less than one-half inch per foot of the distance between any two adjacent axles or in any event of less than
nine inches, measured above the level surface of a roadway, upon or across any tracks at a railroad grade
crossing without first complying with this Code section.
(b) Notice of any such intended crossing shall be given to a station agency of such railroad and a reasonable
time shall be given to such railroad to provide proper protection at such crossing.
(c) Before making any such crossing, the person operating or moving any such vehicle or equipment shall
first stop it not less than 15 feet nor more than 50 feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and while so
stopped shall listen and look in both directions along such track for any approaching train and for signals
indicating the approach of a train and shall not proceed until the crossing can be made safely.
(d) No such crossing shall be made when warning is given by automatic signal or crossing gates or a flagman
or otherwise of the immediate approach of a railroad train or car. If a flagman is provided by the railroad,
movement over the crossing shall be under his direction.