Motorists can ignore these motorway speed limit signs (Image: Getty)
Motorists have been left stunned after realising and face no punishment.
Due to a little-known , road users can travel past certain speed warnings and not run the risk of being fined.
, especially overhead gantries above several .
These encourage road users to slow down but are not legally enforceable, meaning drivers are completely free to ignore them.
A baffled motorist discovered the rule after querying why drivers were not slowing down – despite speed warnings.
These limits are not enforceable but should be followed (Image: Getty)
user @walrus366 posted: “Occasionally there’s a singular variable speed limit sign on the left of the road, which is usually displayed in orange lights (on those same signs that sometimes display warnings), and everyone seems to zoom past without respecting it.
“I’ve had it say 40 for example when everyone is doing the national speed limit, and when I tried to drop down to 40 it felt very dangerous as no one else did.
“Am I misunderstanding what this sign means? Is it advisory only?”
user @jonburnage cleared up the concern, responding: “If it doesn’t have a red circle around it, it’s only advisory.”
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Driving instructors at PassMeFirst confirmed these limits did not have to be followed but still encouraged road users to think about slowing down.
They said: “Sometimes advisory speed limit signs are used on motorways. These display a number, with amber lights flashing in the corners of the sign.
“Although not enforceable by law, you should still take note of advisory speed limits. They reflect conditions on the road, and potential hazards that you need to be aware of.”
However, motorists could easily get confused about which sign they are looking at and may accidentally assume a strict speed limit is an advisory.
Road users caught travelling above an official speed limit will be slapped with a £100 fine and up to three penalty points on their driving licence.
added: “The advisory signs have amber numbers and are usually dot matrix signs, the digital type that use coloured dots to write words or numbers.
“Temporary speed limits have amber numbers inside a red circle. These speed limits are legally enforceable, so be sure to stick to them.
“The compulsory speed limit signs are the type you see everywhere, usually a black number on a white background with a red outline.”