Tourist confused by UK road sign after driving around for weeks without knowing what it means

Cast your mind back to your driving theory - can you remember what every road sign means?

I mean, we all definitely should be able to, it can be pretty important knowing the difference between a t-junction and a dead end.

But if it's confusing for those of us who live in the UK and have passed our driving tests, just think how bamboozling it can be for tourists trying to navigate our roads for the first time.

And one sign in particular really did one visitor over recently, so much so that they took to social media to find out what the hell it actually meant.

Posting on Reddit, a tourist shared a photo of a sign you've probably seen a lot while out and about.

Mordyth Marcus Harrison - signs / Alamy

The snap shows a blue circle with a red outline and cross through it.

"Been driving around the UK for the last few weeks... Wtf is this sign?" the post reads.

Now, as with any post to Reddit, there's always a few comedians who can't help but take the p**s and not actually help the person out.

Such as this one, who said it means: "X-Men nearby."

Or how about this useful addition: "Denotes an area where it's illegal to film an adult movie."

But thankfully for the tourist, there were plenty of people in the comments who were actually able to shed some light on the matter.

Kevin Wheal/Alamy

Responding to the post, one motorist explained that it simply meant a driver was not allowed to stop on the road in question.

"No stopping," wrote one fellow user.

Under the Highway Code, if you ever see this sign, you are not to stop - even for a short period - whether that's to pick someone up or drop them off.

If you do happen to stop in this zone, you can be hit with a fixed penalty notice, so it's worth bearing in mind.

But this isn't the only sign to leave motorists stumped, though.

One Reddit user was recently 'convinced 99 percent of drivers don't know what' the sign with a white backdrop and single black stripe through the middle at a 45 degree angle means.

How about you? Any ideas?

Linda Cooke/Alamy

Well, according to the RAC website: "A white circular sign with a single black diagonal stripe through it tells you that the national speed limit applies on the upcoming stretch of road. It supersedes any previous speed limit signs you may have had to adhere to, such as passing through temporary roadworks."

This means that in a built-up area with street lights, the speed limit is 30mph unless otherwise stated. On a single carriageway it's 60mph for cars, and 50mph for vans and anything bigger, as well as if you're in a car towing something.

And on a dual carriageway and motorway, it's 70mph but 60mph for goods vehicles and cars carrying trailers or caravans.

You're welcome.

Topics: UK News

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is LADbible's Editorial Lead. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

@SmithersDom