You drive toward a railroad crossing. The lights start to flash, the bells ring, and the gate arms begin to come down. You can see a train, but it looks far away. What should you do?

Correct answer: Stop before the gate, and wait until the arms are all the way up and the lights and bells have stopped.

Why

Railroad crossing gates come down when a train approaches. Wisconsin law does not let you drive through, around or under a gate while it is down or while it moves. A train is large and heavy and moves faster than it seems, so a train that looks far away can reach the crossing before you are clear. Wait until the gate is fully up, the lights and bells stop, and you can see that the tracks are clear.

Verified against Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook · Railroad crossings · p. 34, 35