Vehicle Stalls on Railroad Tracks | RI Division of Motor Vehicles

RHODE ISLAND’S TITLE LAW HAS CHANGED Effective March 1, 2024

The Rhode Island DMV will no longer be accepting photocopies, images, or electronic copies of titles.
All new registration and/or new title transactions will now REQUIRE THE ORIGINAL TITLE to be submitted to the RI DMV at the time the transaction takes place.
Your lienholder or leasing company can send the original title to the RI DMV, ATTN: Research Office, 600 New London Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920 or to you directly. We highly recommend that the title and other documents are sent with tracking information to enable customers and lienholders to know when the title was received.
As long as your contact information (name, address, phone and e-mail) is included with the title, the RI DMV will contact you once your original title has been received so you can complete your transaction. Be advised that this process can take several weeks for the original title to be sent to the RI DMV. Please also be advised that the RI DMV cannot request a title from a lienholder or lease company.
A VIN check is required for all transactions involving an Out-of-State title/vehicle.
Reservations are required for all visits. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
For more information on RI’s new title laws, and new requirements for registration and title transactions, CLICK HERE and scroll down.

Vehicle Stalls on Railroad Tracks

If your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks and you know a train is approaching:

Get yourself and any passengers out of your vehicle and off the tracks and move as far from the tracks as possible.

To avoid being hit by debris from the collision, exit your vehicle and run, far away from the tracks, in a parallel line in the opposite direction from which the train is moving. The debris field from the collision of train and motor vehicle will travel in the same direction that the train is moving – you want to be as far away as possible in the opposite direction.

Railroad crossing information for the motorist:

Be alert to signs and roadway markings indicating a railroad crossing is ahead (RR), circular yellow sign.

When red signals begin to flash or gates are being lowered, stop, look, and listen.

Never attempt to beat the train to the crossing or go around gates that are down.

All buses, trucks transporting hazardous material, and certain other vehicles must always stop prior to crossing railroad tracks. Be patient and wait for these vehicles to cross.

Although some railroad tracks appear abandoned, never assume a train cannot be present. Assume a train will travel on the tracks, even if the tracks appear to be abandoned.

Drivers and passengers in vehicles are at significant risk of serious injury or death when colliding with a train.

It may take a train a mile and a half to come to a complete stop after applying the brake.