# Crossbuck
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossbuck
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{{Short description|Sign with level crossings, often in a cross}}
{{distinguish|text=[bar gate](/source/bar_gate), which often accompanies a crossbuck}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{cleanup rewrite|date=December 2024}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2025}}
{{Original research|date=December 2025}}
}}
[[File:American Crossbuck.jpg|alt=An American crossbuck paired with a yield sign|thumb|An [American](/source/United_States) crossbuck paired with a [yield sign](/source/yield_sign)]]
A '''crossbuck''' is a [traffic sign](/source/traffic_sign) used to indicate a [level railway crossing](/source/level_crossing). It is composed of two slats of wood or metal of equal length, fastened together on a pole in a [saltire](/source/saltire) formation (resembling the letter X). Crossbucks are often supplemented by electrical warnings of flashing lights, a bell, and/or a boom barrier that descends to block the road and prevent traffic from crossing the tracks.
==Vienna Convention==
The [Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals](/source/Vienna_Convention_on_Road_Signs_and_Signals), a multilateral treaty of the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations) with the intention of standardizing traffic signs around the world, prescribes several different regulations for the "crossbuck" sign.
The sign should consist of two arms not less than {{convert|1.2|metres|feet}} long, crossed in the form of an 10px. The first model may have a white or yellow background with a thick red or black border. The second model may have a white or yellow background with a thin black border and an inscription, for example, "railroad crossing", "railway crossing", etc. If lateral clearance obstructs the placement of the sign, it may be rotated 90° so that its points are directed vertically. If used at a level crossing with more than one track, a half cross or a supplementary plate stating the number of tracks may be added below.
It specified these models:
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28a-V1-1.svg|alt=Model, A-28a-V1-1|'''A-28a-V1-1'''
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28a-V1-2.svg|alt=Model, A-28a-V1-2|'''A-28a-V1-2'''
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28a-V1-1-EA.svg|alt=Model, A-28a-V1-1-EA|'''A-28a-V1-1-EA'''
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28a-V1-2-EA.svg|alt=Model, 28a-V1-2-EA|'''28a-V1-2-EA'''
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28c-V1-1.svg|alt=Model, A-28c-V1-1|'''A-28c-V1-1'''
It also specified multi-track models:
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28b-V1-1.svg|alt=Model, A-28b-V1-1|'''A-28b-V1-1'''
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28b-V1-2.svg|alt=Model, A-28b-V1-2|'''A-28b-V1-2'''
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28b-V1-1-EA.svg|alt=Model, A-28b-V1-1-EA|'''A-28b-V1-1-EA'''
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28b-V1-2-EA.svg|alt=Model, A-28b-V1-2-EA|'''A-28b-V1-2-EA'''
File:Vienna Convention road sign A-28c-V3-1.svg|alt=Model, A-28c-V3-1|'''A-28c-V3-1'''
==Variants around the world==
{{multiple image
|align= left
|direction = horizontal
|total_width= 400
|image1= Cruce a nivel en Perico.jpg
|caption1 = A disused warning cross in [Argentina](/source/Argentina)
|image2= Preussnitz8 Brandenburgische Staedtebahn.JPG
|caption2 = German crossbuck, half red and white
}}
In the United States, the crossbuck carries the words "rail" and "road" on one arm and "crossing" on the other ("rail" and "road" are separated by the "crossing" arm), in black text on a white background. Older variants simply used black and white paint; newer installations use a reflective white material with non-reflective lettering. Some antique U.S. crossbucks were painted in other color schemes, and used glass "[cat's eye](/source/Cat's_eye_(road))" reflectors on the letters to make them stand out. Other countries, such as China, also use this layout, but with appropriately localized terms. Often, a supplemental sign below the crossbuck indicates the number of tracks at the crossing. In the 1990s, the state of [Ohio](/source/Ohio) experimented with the modified [Buckeye Crossbuck](/source/Ohio_Manual_of_Uniform_Traffic_Control_Devices), which had a specialized accompanying plate.
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 300
| image3 = Ahob Enschede.jpg
| caption3 = Dutch crossbuck with flash lights
| image4 = 16-08-30-Riga Daugavgrīva-RR2 3709.jpg
| caption4 = Latvian crossbuck with a [stop sign](/source/stop_sign) and lights
}}
In Canada, crossbucks have a red border and no lettering. These were installed in the 1980s shortly after English-French [bilingualism](/source/bilingualism) was made official, replacing signs of a style similar to those used in the U.S., except the word "railway" was used instead of "railroad" and in certain areas the words "traverse de chemin de fer" were used.
In Mexico, the crossbucks read "cruce de ferrocarril", a literal translation of its U.S. counterpart. Older designs read "cuidado con el tren", meaning "beware of the train".
In Argentina, the most common legend is "peligro ferrocarril" ("danger: railroad"). Other crosses also read "cuidado con los trenes – pare mire escuche" ("beware of the trains – stop, look, listen") for the [Ferrocarril Belgrano](/source/Ferrocarril_Belgrano), "paso a nivel – ferro carril" for the [Ferrocarril Mitre](/source/Ferrocarril_Mitre) and "cuidado con los trenes" ("beware of the trains") for the [Ferrocarril Roca](/source/Ferrocarril_Roca).
In parts of Europe, the cross is white with red trimmings or ends, sometimes on a rectangular background; in [Finland](/source/Finland) and [Greece](/source/Greece) the cross is yellow, trimmed with red.
Taiwan uses two crossbucks: a version with a yellow and black cross, and one with the cross in white with a red border. A special symbol in the center indicates an electric railroad crossing, cautioning road users about excessive height cargo that may contact the electric wires.
In Australia, the crossbuck is a St Andrews Cross as in Europe, but uses words and the same color as the American crossbuck. In contrast to the American "railroad crossing", Australian signs say "railway crossing" or "tramway crossing". (Most cases where a tram in its own right-of-way crosses a road do not use a crossbuck and so are regular intersections rather than level crossings.)
Different countries may classify the sign differently. For example, in Australia it is considered a [regulatory sign](/source/regulatory_sign), while in close neighbour New Zealand it is considered a [warning sign](/source/warning_sign). Some countries, such as Australia, France, New Zealand, Slovakia and Slovenia may place the crossbuck design on a "target board", while other countries quite often do not. In the United Kingdom, it is only used for crossings with no barriers or signal lights.
=== Crossbucks of the world ===
File:Australia R6-25.svg|Australia (variant) [{{cite web |title=Australian Road Rules |url=http://pcc.gov.au/uniform/Australian-Road-Rules-3September2018.pdf |website=Australasian Parliamentary Counsel's Committee |location=120 What is a level crossing |page=112}}]
File:Gefahrenzeichen 6d liegend.svg|Austria [{{cite web |title=292. Verordnung der Bundesministerin für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie, mit der die Verordnung über Straßenverkehrszeichen (Straßenverkehrszeichenverordnung 1998 – StVZVO 1998) geändert wird (1. Novelle zur StVZVO 1998) |url=https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2013_II_292/BGBLA_2013_II_292.pdfsig |language=de |location=Gefahrenzeichen|page=11}}]
File:Gefahrenzeichen 6d.svg|Austria (vertical) [{{cite web |title=292. Verordnung der Bundesministerin für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie, mit der die Verordnung über Straßenverkehrszeichen (Straßenverkehrszeichenverordnung 1998 – StVZVO 1998) geändert wird (1. Novelle zur StVZVO 1998) |url=https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2013_II_292/BGBLA_2013_II_292.pdfsig |language=de |location=Gefahrenzeichen|page=11}}]
File:Gefahrenzeichen 6d Tafel.svg|Austria (variant) [{{cite web |title=292. Verordnung der Bundesministerin für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie, mit der die Verordnung über Straßenverkehrszeichen (Straßenverkehrszeichenverordnung 1998 – StVZVO 1998) geändert wird (1. Novelle zur StVZVO 1998) |url=https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2013_II_292/BGBLA_2013_II_292.pdfsig |language=de |location=Gefahrenzeichen|page=11}}]
File:Belgian traffic sign A45.svg|Belgium [{{Cite web |title=Koninklijk besluit van 1 december 1975 houdende algemeen reglement op de politie van het wegverkeer en van het gebruik van de openbare weg |url=https://static.tijd.be/upload/KB_01_12_1975_5370196-2518592.pdf |website=static.tijd.be |language=nl-BE|page=83}}]
File:Brasil A-41a.svg|Brazil {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:HR road sign A37.svg|Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Singapore and Slovenia {{cn|date=April 2026}}
File:BG road sign А34.1.svg|Bulgaria {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:Canadian Railroad Crossing Sign.svg|Canada [{{Cite web |title=Grade Crossings Standards |url=https://tc.canada.ca/en/rail-transportation/standards/grade-crossings-standards/part-b-existing-grade-crossings|location=Figure 4-1 – Railway Crossing Sign and Number of Tracks Sign}}]
File:Canadian Railway Crossbuck (with red backing board).png|Canada (former) {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:Canadian Railway Crossing Sign (English) (old).svg|Canada (former) {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:Canadian_Crossbuck_(Old).svg|Canada (former) {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:1950's_Ontario_warning_traffic_sign,_railroad_crossing.svg|Canada (used in Ontario in the 1950s) {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:Canadian Railway Crossing Sign (French) (old).svg|Canada (formerly used in Quebec) {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:SIECA road sign R-1-6.svg|[Central American Integration System](/source/Central_American_Integration_System) Member States [{{Cite web |title=ACUERDO CENTROAMERICANO SOBRE CIRCULACIÓN POR CARRETERAS, EN MATERIA DE PESOS Y DIMENSIONES DE VEHÍCULOS DE CARGA |url=https://irp.cdn-website.com/6813ed2d/files/uploaded/SIECA%202014.pdf|location=2.2.4 SERIE DERECHOS Y PRIORIDAD DE PASO (R-1-1 A R-1-9)|page=59}}]
File:Chile road sign PI-2a.svg|Chile {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:Colombia road sign SP-54 (old).svg|Colombia (former) {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:Denmark road sign A74.1.svg|Denmark [{{Cite web |title=Faerdselstavle |url=https://login.koreklar.dk/faerdselstavler.pdf|location=Advarselstavler|page=2}}]
File:Zeichen 201-50 – Andreaskreuz - Dem Schienenverkehr Vorrang gewähren! StVO 1992.svg|Germany [{{Cite web |title=VzKat 2017 |url=https://www.vzkat.de/2017/VzKat.htm|location= Teil 3}}] and Slovakia {{cn|date=April 2026}}
File:Zeichen 201-51 - Andreaskreuz (stehend) mit Blitzpfeil, StVO 1992.svg|Germany and Slovakia (level crossings on electrified lines) {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:Italian traffic signs - croce di S.Andrea.svg|Italy {{cn|date=December 2025}}
File:Taiwan Railway Crossbuck (black and yellow).svg|Japan and Taiwan
File:MX road sign SIR-9.svg|Mexico [{{Cite web |title=ACUERDO CENTROAMERICANO SOBRE CIRCULACIÓN POR CARRETERAS, EN MATERIA DE PESOS Y DIMENSIONES DE VEHÍCULOS DE CARGA|url=https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/sedatu/Manual_de_sealizacin_2023_VF.pdf|location=Figura VIII.1-5 Señalización para CRUCE DE FERROCARRIL|page=882}}]
File:Nederlands verkeersbord J12.svg|Netherlands [{{Cite web |title=VERKEERSBORDENOVERZICHT.NL|url=https://www.verkeersbordenoverzicht.nl/deel2.html#J|location=J-serie: Waarschuwing}}]
File:New Zealand road sign W15-3.1.svg|New Zealand (variant)
File:NO road sign 138.1.svg|Norway
File:Panama crossbuck.svg|Panama
File:Peru road sign P-44.svg|Peru
File:PL road sign G-3.svg|Poland
File:RO road sign A51.svg|Romania
File:RO road sign A49.svg|Romania (variant used for railway crossings without gates and lights)
File:South Korea Railway Crossbuck.svg|South Korea
File:Sweden road sign A39-1.svg|Sweden
File:Thai Railroad Crossing Sign.svg|Thailand
File:MUTCD R15-1.svg|United States
File:Inverted Railroad Crossbuck.png|United States (inverted variant)
File:MUTCD R15-1 (Buckeye Crossbuck).svg|United States (experimental version used in Ohio for a time)
File:United States Black Railroad Crossbuck.png|United States (variant, former)
File:Venezuela road sign P3-16.svg|Venezuela
File:Vietnam road sign W242a.svg|Vietnam
==Multiple tracks==
Several countries use a sign to indicate that multiple tracks must be crossed at a level crossing. In Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S., a sign is mounted beneath the crossbuck (above the warning light assembly, if any) with the number of tracks. Many European countries use multiple crossbucks or additional [chevron](/source/Chevron_(insignia))s ("half-crossbucks") below the first one. Taiwan also uses half-crossbucks below the regular crossbuck.
File:Argentina P-3B.svg|Argentina
File:Gefahrenzeichen 6d doppelt liegend.svg|Austria
File:Gefahrenzeichen 6d doppelt.svg|Austria
File:Gefahrenzeichen 6d doppelt Tafel.svg|Austria (variant)
File:Bangladesh road sign B47 B.svg|Bangladesh
File:Belgian traffic sign A47.svg|Belgium
File:HR road sign A37-1.svg|Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia and Slovenia
File:BG road sign А34.2.svg|Bulgaria
File:Cambodia road sign R3-10.svg|Cambodia
File:China road sign 警 30.gif|China
File:A32b CZ.svg|Czechia
File:Denmark road sign A74.2.svg|Denmark
File:Estonia road sign 122.svg|Estonia
File:Finland road sign 177.svg|Finland
File:FR road sign G1a.svg|France
File:Traffic Sign GR - KOK 2009 - K-37.svg|Greece
File:Hungary road sign A-042.svg|Hungary
File:Hungary road sign A-044.svg|Hungary
File:ID Rambu larangan 1f.svg|Indonesia
File:Italian traffic signs - Doppia croce di Sant'Andrea.svg|Italy
File:Latvia road sign 135.svg|Latvia
File:Luxembourg road sign diagram B,7b (2018).svg|Luxembourg
File:Nederlands verkeersbord J13.svg|Netherlands
File:NO road sign 138.2.svg|Norway
File:PL road sign G-4.svg|Poland
File:Portugal road sign A32b.svg|Portugal
File:RO road sign A52.svg|Romania
File:RO road sign A50.svg|Romania (variant used for railway crossings without gates and lights)
File:RU road sign 1.3.2.svg|Russia
File:Serbia road sign I-34.1.svg|Serbia
File:Slovenia road sign I-38.1 (Historic).svg|Slovenia (former)
File:Spain traffic signal p11a.svg|Spain
File:Sweden road sign A39-3.svg|Sweden
File:CH-Vortrittssignal-Doppeltes Andreaskreuz.svg|Switzerland
File:Taiwan road sign Art072.2.png|Taiwan (variant)
File:Taiwan road sign Art072.4.png|Taiwan (variant used for electrified railway crossings)
File:Tunisia Railroad Crossbuck Multi Track.png|Tunisia
File:Turkey road sign T-27b.svg|Turkey (variant)
File:UA road sign 1.30.svg|Ukraine
File:Vietnam road sign W242b.svg|Vietnam
==Advance warning==
Several countries include the crossbuck icon on their railway crossing ahead [warning sign](/source/warning_sign)s. In Argentina, railway crossing ahead signs used a common red-bordered triangle defaced with a black [steam locomotive](/source/steam_locomotive) icon placed on white background according Vienna Convention as well as the most other countries in the world outside of the Americas.{{efn|Used for unprotected railway crossings in most other countries in the world. In Argentina, Germany, Israel — it is used for both protected and unprotected railway crossing ahead signs.}}
File:Vienna Convention road sign Aa-26b-V1.svg|Vienna Convention; '''Aa-26b-V1'''
File:Vienna Convention road sign Ab-26b-V1.svg|Vienna Convention; '''Ab-26b-V1'''
File:Australia road sign W7-4.svg|Australia
File:Australia Rail Crossing sign (W7-3).svg|alt=Australia (former variant) |Australia (former)
File:Australia RX-7 (R).svg|Australia (side road)
File:Australia RX-11.svg|Australia (variant with warning lights)
File:CA-MUTCDC WA-018.svg|Canada
File:CA-MUTCDC WA-018-L.svg|Canada (variant for left-skewed crossing)
File:CA-MUTCDC WA-018-R.svg|Canada (variant for right-skewed crossing)
File:Canadian Advance Railway Crossing Ahead (old).svg|alt=Canada (former variant)|Canada (former)
File:Iraq Railroad Crossing Sign.png|Iraq
File:Panama P-41.svg|Panama (variant for railroad crossings without gates but with lights)
File:Philippines road sign W7-3.svg|Philippines
File:MUTCD W10-1.svg|United States
File:MUTCD Sign Assembly - W10-1 with W10-1aP.svg|United States (exempt railroad crossing, the usual requirement for commercial and mass transit vehicles to stop at the crossing regardless of activity on the line need not be obeyed)
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Warning crosses}}
*[https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part8/part8_toc.htm Part 8. Traffic Control for Railroad and Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings], U.S. [Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices](/source/Manual_on_Uniform_Traffic_Control_Devices), 2009 ed.
*[https://www.roadtrafficsigns.com/railroad-crossing-crossbuck-sign-history History of the Railroad Crossbuck Sign: the Sign that Rose to the Challenge] (Road Traffic Signs)
{{Traffic signs}}
{{Railway signalling}}
Category:Level crossings
Category:Railway safety
Category:Traffic signs
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Crossbuck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossbuck) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossbuck?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.