Where must red flags or lights be displayed?

Red flags or lights are essential safety devices used to signify that trains and on-track equipment must stop. Their primary purpose is to alert crew members, engineers, and any personnel involved in rail operations about a situation that requires immediate attention or caution.

Displays of red flags or lights serve as a critical signal for potential hazards or obstructions on the tracks. These flags or lights form part of the required signals that ensure safe operations, especially in areas where visibility might be compromised or where there are unusual situations that necessitate a stop or caution.

While flags or lights may be relevant in stations, at level crossings, or high traffic areas, the specific requirement for them to be displayed is fundamentally linked to their function of signaling a mandatory stop where it is essential for safety. Thus, the most accurate context in which red flags or lights must be displayed is where the train or on-track equipment is required to stop, fulfilling their role effectively in the broader operational framework of rail safety.