Be cautious at every highway- rail grade crossing at any time of the day or night. As you might expect, familiarity with a highway-rail grade crossing breeds complacency. Most highway-rail grade crossing crashes occur within 25 miles of a driver's home. It's generally safe to drive around lowered gates. The only thing you prove by ignoring highway-rail grade crossing gates, or by passing other cars at them, is that you increase your chances of being involved in a collision with a train.
Smart drivers stay put until it's safe.
A minute lost waiting could be your life saved. You go to the bottom of the class if you get caught in this situation. Wait on the approach to a highway-rail grade crossing until there's room for your vehicle on the other side. The inability of the train to stop quickly. According to a recent study, driver error is involved in almost all highway-rail grade crossing crashes.