(a) The department of transportation, and local authorities, with the approval of the department, are hereby authorized to designate particularly dangerous highway grade crossings of railroads and to erect stop signs at such locations. When such stop signs are erected, the driver of any vehicle shall stop within fifty feet (50') but not less than fifteen feet (15') from the nearest rail of such railroad and shall proceed only upon exercising due care.

(b) None of the provisions of this section, § 55-8-145, or § 55-8-147 shall be construed as abridging or in any way affecting the common law right of recovery of litigants in damage suits that may be pending or brought against any railroad company or other common carrier.

(c) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 45; impl. am. Acts 1959, ch. 9, § 3; impl. am. Acts 1972, ch. 829, § 7; T.C.A., § 59-846; Acts 1981, ch. 261, § 12; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.]