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Highway-rail grade crossings that don't have lights and gates are called "passive" crossings because there are no devices that activate when a train approaches. Some crossings have flashing lights, bells and other electric devices that warn of an approaching train.

A passive crossing is one that does not have flashing lights or automatic gates. ● The crossbuck sign, the white X sign, is a regulatory sign that means Yield. Crossbuck signs are required at all public railroad crossings. The railroad companies and maintain crossbuck signs.

Active Grade Crossings have active warning and control devices such as bells, flashing lights, and gates, in addition to passive warning devices such as crossbucks (the familiar x-shaped signs that mean yield to the train), yield or stop signs and pavement markings.

Types of level crossings Active control uses one or more of lights, booms, gates, audible warning devices or lit signs to warn that rail traffic is approaching a level crossing. Passive control uses only signs to warn about the presence of a level crossing.

A passive crossing is one that does not have flashing lights or automatic gates. ● The crossbuck sign, the white X sign, is a regulatory sign that means Yield. Crossbuck signs are required at all public railroad crossings. The railroad companies and maintain crossbuck signs.

Active Grade Crossings have active warning and control devices such as bells, flashing lights, and gates, in addition to passive warning devices such as crossbucks (the familiar x-shaped signs that mean yield to the train), yield or stop signs and pavement markings.

There are two types of crossings–private and public. Private crossings are not required to have advance signs or other markings and are found on roadways not maintained by public authority.

Highway-rail grade crossings are intersections where highways cross railroad tracks at-grade. Approximately 212,000 highway-rail grade crossings exist on approximately 140,000 miles of track that make up the United States' railroad system.