What safety feature protects passengers at light rail crossings?

The safety feature that protects passengers at light rail crossings is the use of signal signals and crossing gates. These mechanisms are designed to enhance safety by providing clear visual and auditory warnings to both pedestrians and drivers when a light rail vehicle is approaching. The signal lights typically change to a distinctive color, such as red, to signal that it is unsafe to enter the crossing, while the crossing gates lower to physically block the crossing area. This two-pronged approach ensures that passengers have advanced notice of an approaching light rail vehicle, reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall safety at these potentially hazardous locations.

Other options, while they play various roles in traffic management and safety, do not provide the same level of protection specifically at light rail crossings. Overhead signs can serve as informational tools but lack the immediate and active safety measures needed. Speed bumps are designed to reduce vehicle speed in certain areas but do not address the specific challenges posed by light rail crossings. Traffic lights, while crucial for managing vehicular traffic, do not directly interact with the light rail system in the same way that signals and gates do, which are specifically engineered for this purpose.