Level crossing with barrier sign: what it means

Level crossing with barrier or gate warning sign: a white triangle with a red border and a black gate
Image: Crown copyright, OGL

This sign warns of a railway level crossing with a gate or barrier ahead. Be ready to stop: you must always obey the flashing red stop lights.

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What it means

Rule 293: most crossings have traffic light signals with a steady amber light and twin flashing red stop lights. You must always obey the flashing red lights and stop behind the white line. If a train goes by and the red lights keep flashing, another train will be passing soon.

Never zigzag round half-barriers: they come down because a train is approaching (rule 293). Never drive onto a crossing until the road is clear on the other side (rule 291).

Where you see it

On the approach to railway level crossings with gates or barriers.

A common mistake

Going because the barriers are still up. The lights come first: amber lights and an audible warning, then flashing red lights, warn that the barriers are about to come down, and you must stop. The amber light means stop, unless you have already crossed the white line or are so close that stopping might cause a collision.

Quick quiz

A train has passed, but the red lights at the level crossing are still flashing. What does that mean?

  1. You can go now
  2. Another train will be passing soon
  3. The crossing is out of order
Show answer

B. Another train will be passing soon. Rule 293: you must wait if a train goes by and the red lights continue to flash, because another train will be passing soon. Source: The Highway Code, rule 291, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 293, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: level crossing signs and signals, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Compare with

Next in warning signs: Level crossing without barrier sign. See all warning signs or the full road signs list.

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Sources

  1. The Highway Code, rule 291, GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code, rule 293, GOV.UK
  3. Know your traffic signs: level crossing signs and signals, GOV.UK
  4. Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK
  5. The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK
  6. Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.