Which driver has to bring the vehicle to a stop at every railroad crossing regardless of whether a train is coming or the signals are active?

Why D is correct

The duty to stop unconditionally is narrow, attaching to specific vehicle categories rather than to everyone. Buses carrying passengers stop because a crossing collision endangers a whole load of people who cannot protect themselves, and because their size and low gearing make them slow to clear the rails. Placarded hazmat vehicles stop for a different reason: any incident at a crossing involves consequences beyond the people in the cab. Everyone else stops only when signals, gates, flag or an approaching train require it — but everyone else still bears the duty to look both ways before proceeding.

Why the other options are wrong

A. Every driver, at every crossing, on every occasion

If everyone stopped at every grade crossing the network would cease to function. The general rule is to proceed with caution once the way is clear, not to stop unconditionally.

B. Only school buses carrying children

School buses are only part of the list. Transit coaches carry the same obligation, and placarded hazmat loads carry a separate requirement of their own.

C. Nobody, provided the crossing has been fitted with automatic gates

Automatic gates do not cancel the duty for the categories that bear it. The purpose of stopping there is independent of what the signals happen to be doing at that moment.

On the road

A tour bus rolls onto a crossing without stopping because the lights are dark, and its low closing speed puts fifty people in a place they cannot leave quickly. The stop exists precisely because once you are on the rails there is no time left to judge.

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