Why Is U.S. 231 in Southern Indiana Stuck At 60 Miles Per Hour?

I spent some time in southern Indiana over Memorial Day Weekend. I was at Holiday World Friday afternoon. Saturday, I was in French Lick. On the way back to my home in Owensboro, something occurred to me. It's really time to change the speed limit on U.S. 231.

Okay, hear me out. Yes, I realize that there will be some people who are going to disagree with me on this. But, I think I am probably in the overwhelming majority when I say this. I really think the current speed limit of 60 miles per hour is ridiculous. That's way too slow for that roadway and hardly anyone on it is driving 60.

Chances are you have driven that stretch of roadway, which runs from the new bridge in Daviess County all the way to the intersection of Interstate 64. Why is the speed limit 60 miles per hour?

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Think about it. In Daviess County, the 'bypass' rolls into 231 and much of that bypass, which circles the city of Owensboro and is heavily trafficked, has a speed limit of 65. If we're going 65 around the city, why aren't we driving faster in the 'country' where there is markedly less traffic?

Also, think about this from the perspective of motorists in the Hoosier State. You roll off Interstate 64 (which has four lanes- two going east, two going west), where the speed limit is 70 mph onto 231, which is also FOUR lanes (two going north and two going south). The only real difference in the traffic conditions is that there's LESS traffic on 231. So, why are we considerably decreasing our speeds?

Not only does the speed limit drop on U.S. 231, it's heavily enforced. Almost immediately upon making the exit from I-64 and heading north on 231, you're hit with this!

Your speed is clocked within a mile of your exit from the interstate. Why? There's virtually nothing around. Between I-64 in Dale, Indiana and the bridge into Daviess County, Kentucky, there are just a handful of intersections and they're anything but busy.

Honestly, I don't get it. I personally see no reason why we can't raise that speed limit to 70. Am I alone here? Anyone else?