PRINTER'S NO. 1687
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1357
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY HANNA, KINSEY AND MARSHALL, MAY 9, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MAY 9, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in special stops required, further providing for
obedience to signal indicating approach of train, for
vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings and for
moving heavy equipment at railroad grade crossings.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 3341(a), 3342(a) and (g) and 3343(c) and
(d) of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are
amended to read:
§ 3341. Obedience to signal indicating approach of train.
(a) General rule.--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 it can
be done safely. The foregoing requirements shall apply upon the
occurrence of any of the following circumstances:
(1) A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal
device gives warning of the immediate approach of a railroad
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train or other on-track equipment.
(2) A crossing gate is lowered or a flagman gives or
continues to give a signal of the approach or passage of a
railroad train or other on-track equipment.
(3) A railroad train or other on-track equipment
approaching within approximately 1,500 feet of the highway
crossing emits a signal audible from that distance and the
railroad train or other on-track equipment, by reason of its
speed or nearness to the crossing, is a hazard.
(4) An approaching railroad train or other on-track
equipment is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity to
the crossing.
* * *
§ 3342. Vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings.
(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (c), the
driver of any vehicle described in subsection (b), before
crossing at grade any track or tracks of a railroad, shall stop
the vehicle within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the
nearest rail of the railroad crossing and while so stopped shall
listen and look in both directions along the track for any
approaching train or other on-track equipment, and for signals
indicating the approach of a train or other on-track equipment.
When it is safe to do so, the driver of the vehicle shall drive
the vehicle across the tracks only in such gear of the vehicle
that there will be no necessity for manually changing gears
while traversing the crossing. The driver shall not manually
shift gears while crossing the track or tracks.
* * *
(g) Requirement upon approaching tracks.--Upon approaching
any track of a railroad, the driver of every commercial motor
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vehicle as defined by section 1603 (relating to definitions)
other than those listed in subsection (b) shall:
(1) reduce the rate of speed of the commercial motor
vehicle and check that the tracks are free of approaching
trains or other on-track equipment; and
(2) stop the vehicle if the tracks are not clear.
* * *
§ 3343. Moving heavy equipment at railroad grade crossings.
* * *
(c) Stopping at crossing.--Before making any crossing, the
person operating or moving the vehicle or equipment shall first
stop the vehicle or equipment not less than 15 feet nor more
than 50 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad and while so
stopped shall listen and look in both directions along the track
for any approaching train or other on-track equipment and for
signals indicating the approach of a train or other on-track
equipment, and shall not proceed until the crossing can be made
safely.
(d) Movement over crossing.--No 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 other on-track equipment or car. Movement over a
crossing shall be under the direction of any flagman provided by
the railroad.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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