How many feet should you stop away from train tracks?

Fifteen feet? Seriously? That's what they say, at least – fifteen feet away from train tracks when the lights are flashing, the gates are down, or some poor guy's waving a flag like a madman. Remember that time I was stuck behind that huge lumber truck at the crossing near my aunt's house? The lights started flashing, and the guy just inched forward, so slow! I swear, I thought we were going to get flattened. It was terrifying. You’d think people would have learned from old movies, right? Those aren't cartoons.

So yeah, fifteen feet. Give yourself some space, people! It's not rocket science, and it's certainly not worth getting squished for. I mean, think about it – you might need a little extra room if something goes wrong, right? What if your brakes fail? Or your car stalls? Better to be safe than sorry, and fifteen feet feels awfully close, especially when that big metal beast comes rumbling through. I'd probably go a little further, honestly, if I could. A twenty-foot buffer zone sounds better to me. Especially with those crazy fast trains we have around here! You know, the ones that seem to shake your whole body even from a distance!