Why are some regional level crossing sings a Saint Andrew's Cross? Is there a historical explanation for this?

Question

See for example the Cross at http://freggle.cc.kuleuven.ac.be/webpalet/images/2006/overweg.jpg and its position in the signage at http://www.soundandvision.be/rijbewijs/wegwet/afbeeldingen/wegwet70a.JPG

The Cross is mostly found at crossings in European countries.

In the country where the pics above were taken, the Cross has been in use since the inception of level crossings in the nineteenth century. The red lights (which were integrated with the Cross) and gates were added later. But the Cross always remained until today.

At "unguarded crossings" (no lights/bell/gates) the Cross is the only sign indicating the crossing, nothing else. The Cross is *always* present, so it seems to be considered as a very important sign.

However, I still cannot find why for more than 100 years this Cross is being used and not some other sign. This Cross really stands out in the signage. What was the reason to use specifically this Cross in the 19t century? Did it have a related meaning (i.e. it was associate with danger) back then?

Answer 1

An interesting query... I checked several websites on Symbology and found nothing specific THERE.

Here is an article on the Cross-buck: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossbuck

Answer 2

I had not seen that cross on a crossing signal before. Interesting. My guess, (and this is ONLY a guess) is that someone thought it might be a bit better at getting peoples' attention and providing a small degree of extra safety. Crossing protection doesnt work if people dont see it.