What should a driver do when the bells start ringing and the crossing arms begin to come down at a railroad crossing?

When the bells start ringing and the crossing arms begin to come down at a railroad crossing, the appropriate action is to stop immediately. This is important for safety as the warning signals indicate that a train is approaching, and it is critical to avoid crossing the tracks until it is completely safe to do so. Stopping allows for a clear assessment of the situation and ensures that the vehicle remains a safe distance from the tracks.

Choosing to speed up to get through the crossing, driving through the gates, or reversing would put the driver, passengers, and train passengers in significant danger. Such actions could lead to serious accidents, and they do not comply with the established safety measures designed to prevent collisions at railroad crossings.