Railroad crossing ahead sign: what it means

Railroad crossing ahead warning sign: a round yellow sign with a black X and the letters R and R
Drawing: DriveQuiz, based on MUTCD sign W10-1. Simplified; real signs follow the FHWA Standard Highway Signs specifications.

The round yellow sign with an X and two Rs warns of a railroad crossing ahead. Slow down, look and listen for trains, and be ready to stop.

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What it means

MUTCD Section 8B.06: this Grade Crossing Advance Warning sign is used on each highway in advance of every grade crossing, with a few exceptions, such as some business areas where the crossing has active signals.

The circle is a shape reserved for this warning (Section 2A.05), so you can recognize it before you can read it.

Where you see it

Before railroad crossings, ahead of the crossbuck at the tracks.

A common mistake

Keeping your speed because you cannot see a train yet. Slow down so you have time to look, listen and stop.

Quick quiz

What shape is the railroad crossing advance warning sign?

  1. A circle
  2. A diamond
  3. An octagon
Show answer

A. A circle. Section 2A.05 reserves the circle for the Grade Crossing Advance Warning sign. Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 8, Traffic Control for Railroad and Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings: Section 8B.06, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2A, General (signs): Section 2A.05, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

Compare with

Next in warning signs: Curve ahead sign. See all warning signs or the full road signs list.

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Sources

  1. MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 8, Traffic Control for Railroad and Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings: Section 8B.06, FHWA
  2. MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2A, General (signs): Section 2A.05, FHWA
  3. MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025

Sign pictures are our own simplified drawings of the MUTCD designs, which are in the public domain (MUTCD Section 1D.06). Sources and image credits.