Before going over a railroad crossing, the driver of a vehicle or streetcar must stop immediately in front of the railroad crossing (or immediately in front of any stop line established by road signs or markings; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) and must not proceed until after checking that it is safe to do so; provided, however, that the vehicle or streetcar may proceed without stopping immediately before a railroad crossing when complying with a signal indicated by a traffic light.
A vehicle or streetcar must not enter a railroad crossing while a railroad crossing gate is closing or closed or while a railroad crossing alarm is sounding.
車両等は、踏切を通過しようとする場合において、踏切の遮断機が閉じようとし、若しくは閉じている間又は踏切の警報機が警報している間は、当該踏切に入つてはならない。
If the driver of a vehicle or streetcar becomes unable to drive the vehicle or streetcar at a railroad crossing due to a malfunction or other such circumstance, the driver must immediately take measures, such as giving an emergency signal, to inform a staff member of the railroad or tramway or a police officer that a vehicle or streetcar is stopped at the railroad crossing due to a malfunction or other such circumstance, and must also take the necessary measures to move the vehicle or streetcar to a place other than the railroad crossing.
Read this with the articles around it
(Going Over Railroad Crossings)
Before going over a railroad crossing, the driver of a vehicle or streetcar must stop immediately in front of the railroad crossing…
車両等は、踏切を通過しようとするときは、踏切の直前（道路標識等による停止線が設けられているときは、その停止線の直前。以下この項において同じ。）で停止し、かつ、安全であることを確認した後でなければ進行してはならない。ただし、信号機の表示する信号に従うときは、踏切の直前で停止しないで進行することができる。
Open this provisionroad sign or markingmachine translation
「道路標識等」
A road sign (道路標識) or a road marking (道路標示).
Short name set inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (iv)
traffic light
「信号機」
A device, operated by electricity, that shows signals by lights to direct road traffic.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xiv)· applies throughout the law
vehicle or streetcarmachine translation
「車両等」
A vehicle (車両) or a streetcar (路面電車).
Short name set inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xvii)
drivingmachine translation
「運転」
Using a vehicle or streetcar on a road as it is meant to be used, including moving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle by pedals or other human-powered gear it has besides its motor, but not specified automated operation (特定自動運行).
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xvii)· applies throughout the law
drivermachine translation
「運転者」
The person driving a vehicle or streetcar (車両等).
Short name set inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xviii)