What should you do now?

Your answer is correct because, according to German traffic rules, when you approach a railway level crossing and the warning lights start flashing red, you must stop before the crossing. This is a strict legal requirement designed to prevent accidents with trains, which cannot stop quickly.

The flashing red lights are an absolute stop signal. Crossing the tracks despite these lights is a serious violation and very dangerous. You should only cross when the lights stop flashing and it is clearly safe.

Driving through an open barrier or crossing quickly while the warning is active is not allowed and puts you and others at risk. Always stop at the designated stopping line or before the cross if the warning signals are active. This rule is stipulated in the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), §19, which governs behavior at railway crossings.