Advisory speed limit - wikipedia Advisory speed limit A U.S. advisory speed limit sign, warning drivers of a curve ahead. An advisory speed limit is a speed recommendation by a governing body, used when it may be non-obvious to the driver that the safe speed is below the legal speed. It is a posting which approximates the Basic Speed Law or rule, and is subject to enforcement as such. Advisory speed limits are often set in areas with many pedestrians, such as in city centers and outside schools, and on difficult stretches of roads, such as on tight corners or through roadworks. While travelling above the advisory speed limit is not illegal per se, it may be negligence per se and liability for any collisions that occur as a result of traveling above the limit can be placed partially or entirely on the person exceeding the advisory speed limit. Signposting of advisory speed limits varies from country to country ; Australia makes extensive use of advisory speed limits across its highway networks while the Richtgeschwindigkeit ( `` reference speed '' ) in Germany is valid for the whole autobahn network ( but can be overruled by speed limits in particular sections or for special reasons like weather conditions or roadworks ), while the United States and the United Kingdom only give advisory speed limits for hazards such as bends. Contents 1 Use 1.1 United Kingdom 1.2 Australia 1.3 Germany 2 Signage 3 References 4 External links Use Use of advisory speed limits varies from country to country, but they are generally used to reduce speed along short stretches of dangerous road, such as on the tight curves of an off - ramp or on a busy shopping street. The advisory speed limit when not posted is generally the same as the mandatory speed limit in ideal conditions. United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, most speed limits imposed by variable - message signs are advisory, and there are no sanctions for drivers who exceed them ; a notable exception being the Gatsometer - camera enforced, MIDAS and ATM variable limits on the M25, M42 and M6 motorways. Crucially, the signs imposing these limits are distinct from regular, advisory VMS displays by the inclusion of a red ring surround, effectively changing them from advance hazard warnings into standard, mandatory speed - limit signs. As local councils require consent from the Department for Transport before changing speed limits, some use advisory speed limits on roads that the DfT refuses to officially downgrade. The usefulness of advisory speed limits has been questioned by a number of studies : one group from the Transportation Research Board found advisory speed limits through roadworks being consistently flouted by motorists, while an investigation by Manchester Evening News found that almost all buses in Manchester city centre exceeded the local 10 miles per hour ( 16 km / h ) advisory speed limit ; some by as much as 30 miles per hour ( 48 km / h ). Australia In Australia, if a person is involved in a single vehicle accident and the resulting investigation reveals that the driver was exceeding the Advisory Speed Limit displayed it can be a breach of the Insurance Cover Contract, resulting in no pay - out. Germany Now abolished German signs ( in km / h ) indicating the beginning and end of an advisory speed limit. The Richtgeschwindigkeit ( German Advisory or Suggested Speed of Travel ) is a legal term in Germany describing the advisory speed limit for roads without a mandatory speed limit. Autobahns ( German plural form : Autobahnen ) have an advisory speed limit of 130 kilometres per hour ( 81 mph ) on non-signposted sections. Exceeding the advised speed is not a criminal offense, however an increased liability in the case of an accident may result from driving faster than the recommended speed, due to an increased danger of operating the vehicle. In Germany, the Autobahn - Richtgeschwindigkeits - Verordnung ( Directive on Reference Speed on Motorways ), introduced in 1974, recommends a speed of no more than 130 km / h ( 81 mph ) for autobahns and similar roads, whose lanes are separated by a median or which have at least two lanes per direction, provided there are no traffic signs posting a lower speed limit. Until 31 August 2009, a different reference speed could be posted by the traffic signs number 380 and 381, according to § 42 of the German traffic code ( Straßenverkehrsordnung, StVO ), as seen above. As these traffic signs were only rarely used, they meanwhile have been abolished. Signage The signage for advisory speed limits is not defined by the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, and is therefore not standardised internationally. The United States uses a small yellow sign under the main warning sign, as well as a standalone variation on the standard speed limit sign, with a yellow background instead of a white one, the words `` speed limit '' omitted and an additional panel stating the type of hazard ahead. Though they list speeds, the U.S. advisory speed signs are classified as warning signs, not regulatory signs, as primary speed signs are. Australia uses a similar design as the U.S. in spite of regulatory speed limit signs being quite different. Germany used a square sign with a blue background and white lettering, similar to the minimum speed limit sign, and New Zealand uses a yellow background with black lettering ( similar to the Australian design without the `` km / h '' lettering ). The United Kingdom currently uses an oblong white rectangle with black lettering stating `` Max Speed ''. Most of Europe Australia Australia ( motorway exits ) Australia ( with diagram of motorway exit shape ) Victoria, Australia Western Australia, Australia ( traffic - calming bumps, known as speed bumps ) Canada Canada ( Ontario ) ( highway ramps and exits ) Denmark Finland Japan Netherlands New Zealand New Zealand ( motorway exits ) New Zealand ( dangerous curve ) New Zealand ( extremely dangerous curve ) New Zealand ( warning of danger of truck roll - over ) Norway Philippines South Korea Sweden United Kingdom ( imperial ) United Kingdom ( roadworks, imperial ) United States ( customary ) United States ( metric ) United States ( highway exits ) United States ( highway ramps ) United States ( highway curves ) United States ( warning of danger of truck roll - over ) United States ( integrated into curve warning sign ) References Jump up ^ `` Safer motorway driving ''. Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 2007 - 06 - 09. Retrieved 2007 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Speed limits ''. Bristol City Council. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 2007 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ Pesti, Geza ; Jessen, Daniel ; Byrd, Patrick ; McCoy, Patrick. `` Traffic Flow Charactaristics of the Late Merge Work Zone Control Strategy '' ( PDF ). Transportation Research Board. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2016 - 05 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Speeding buses put lives at risk ''. Manchester Evening News. 2005 - 04 - 26. Retrieved 2007 - 10 - 28. ^ Jump up to : `` Autobahnrichtgeschwindigkeitsverordnung '' ( PDF ) ( in German ). German Federal Government. Archived ( PDF ) from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2007 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices ( 2009 edition ), Section 2C. 06 External links Media related to Advisory speed limit road signs at Wikimedia Commons Traffic signs Signs Warning sign Regulatory sign Prohibitory traffic sign Mandatory sign Special regulation sign Stop sign Yield sign Crossbuck Dead End sign One - way traffic Speed limit ( by country ) Advisory speed limit Information sign Direction, position, or indication sign Variable - message sign Bilingual sign Driver location signs Logo sign Priority to the right By comparison Comparison of European road signs Comparison of MUTCD - influenced traffic signs Comparison of traffic signs in English - speaking countries By country Africa Botswana Mauritius South Africa Zimbabwe Asia Azerbaijan Bangladesh Brunei Cambodia China Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Israel Japan Laos Malaysia Nepal Pakistan Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Thailand Turkey United Arab Emirates Vietnam Europe Austria Bosnia and Herzegovina Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Iceland Ireland Italy Liechtenstein Netherlands Norway Poland Sweden Switzerland Ukraine United Kingdom Scotland Wales North America Canada Mexico United States Oceania Australia New Zealand South America Argentina Brazil Chile Colombia Lights Traffic light Traffic - light signalling and operation Traffic light control and coordination Typefaces Alfabeto Normale ( IT ) Austria ( AT ) Caractères ( FR ) Clarendon ( US ) Clearview ( US / CA / ID / PH / LK ) DIN 1451 ( DE / SADC ) Drogowskaz ( PL ) Enigmatic ( JP / KR ) Highway Gothic ( Global ) Bitstream Vera Sans ( TW ) Frutiger ( Europe ) GOST 10807 - 78 ( USSR ) GOST R 52290 - 2004 ( RU ) Hangil ( KR ) LLM Lettering ( MY ) Motorway ( Europe ) NPS Rawlinson Roadway ( US ) Panno ( KR ) SNV ( CH ) Tern ( Europe ) Trafikkalfabetet ( NO ) Transport ( UK ) Tratex ( SE ) Vialog ( JP ) Conventions Geneva Convention on Road Traffic Vienna Convention on Road Traffic Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices ( US ) SADC Road Traffic Signs Manual ( SADC ) Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions ( UK ) Traffic law and safety Rules of the road All - way stop Assured Clear Distance Ahead Australian Road Rules Boulevard rule Green Cross Code Move over law New Zealand Road Code Overtaking Right - and left - hand traffic Right - of - way School bus traffic stop laws Traffic code Turn on red Vienna Convention on Road Traffic Road user guides Driver 's manual The Highway Code The Highway Code ( Malta ) Road Users ' Code Rules of the Road ( Ireland ) Enforcement Breathalyzer Camera Enforcement Red light Highway patrol / State police Parking enforcement Road traffic control Textalyzer Traffic court Traffic guard Traffic stop Traffic ticket Warning Speed limit Advisory speed limit Assured Clear Distance Ahead National Maximum Speed Law School zone Speed limit enforcement Speed limits by country Category : Speed limits by country Moving violations Driving under the influence Canada United States Distracted driving Mobile phones and driving Texting while driving Reckless driving Street racing Tailgating Vehicular homicide Wrong - way driving Driver licensing Commercial driver 's license European driving licence Graduated driver licensing Inter-American Driving Permit International Driving Permit Learner 's permit Point system Driving licences by country List of countries by minimum driving age Traffic violations reciprocity Commercial Driver 's License Information System Driver License Agreement Driver License Compact Non-Resident Violator Compact Parking Alternate - side parking Decriminalised parking enforcement Disabled parking permit Double parking Parking chair Parking violation Wheel clamp Car safety Seat belt laws Click It or Ticket Clunk Click Every Trip Road safety Tachograph Digital tachograph Drivers ' working hours ( Europe ) Epilepsy and driving Hours of service ( US ) `` How 's my driving ? '' sign Old age and driving Sleep deprived driving Slow moving vehicle Vision Zero Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Advisory_speed_limit&oldid=817050543 '' Categories : Traffic law Road speed limit Law enforcement Hidden categories : CS1 German - language sources ( de ) Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch فارسی Français Nederlands 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 25 December 2017, at 19 : 19. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what does a yellow 35 mph sign mean
Answer: advisory speed limits; advisory speed signs are classified as warning signs, not regulatory signs