Final answer:
Safety dictates that you stop and remain stationary when a mechanical signal indicates an approaching train at a railroad crossing. Traffic signals play an essential role in managing vehicle speeds and ensuring pedestrian safety at intersections. Moreover, tollbooth stations use wires in the pavement to slow down vehicles and enhance safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you see a mechanical signal warning of an approaching train at a railroad crossing, it is crucial for your safety to stop moving and become stationary until the train has passed by. Doing so ensures you are at a safe distance from the tracks. Trains can create powerful suction due to the atmospheric pressure difference they cause when moving rapidly, which could potentially pull someone standing too close towards the train, resulting in serious injury or death.
A traffic signal at intersections and pedestrian crossings serves to slow down vehicles and allows pedestrians to cross at appropriate times, thereby enhancing safety for all, including students or others needing to cross busy roads near campuses. In the context of commuter trains, regular passengers often become adept at sensing train schedules and maneuvers simply by observing the crowd's movement and without relying solely on schedule boards.
Moreover, the introduction of tollbooth stations with wires in the pavement is primarily a safety and monitoring measure, ensuring cars slow down as they approach the tollbooth, similarly to how a traffic signal moderates vehicle speed at intersections.