Reverse the Owensboro Bypass Speed Limit back to 65 MPH
The Issue
To: Daviess County Fiscal Court, Owensboro City Commission, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC District 2)
Why this is important:
On June 23, 2026, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet abruptly announced that the speed limit on the U.S. 60 Wendell H. Ford Expressway (the Owensboro bypass) would drop from 65 mph to 55 mph. This change, requested by local officials, is a reactive measure that will penalize daily commuters without addressing the actual causes of accidents on the bypass.
While safety is a priority for everyone in Daviess County, artificially lowering the speed limit on a major expressway that carries over 41,000 vehicles a day is not the answer. When the speed limit was raised to 65 mph in 2017, traffic studies showed that 85% of drivers were naturally driving at that speed.
Dropping the limit back to 55 mph will create new dangers:
Speed Discrepancies: Many drivers will continue to drive the natural speed of the highway (65 mph), while others will abruptly slow down to 55 mph. This 10+ mph gap between vehicles is a major cause of rear-end collisions and road rage.
Congestion: Slower speeds on our busiest corridor will increase congestion, making merging more difficult and causing backups at peak hours.
Ignoring Better Solutions: The KYTC is already planning to install median cable barriers to prevent severe crossover crashes, which is a fantastic, proven safety measure. Furthermore, safety improvements should focus on extending merge lanes and improving on-ramp visibility, rather than slowing down the entire flow of traffic.
We, the residents and daily commuters of Daviess County, ask the Daviess County Fiscal Court and the Owensboro City Commission to formally request the KYTC to reverse this decision and restore the 65 mph speed limit. Let's focus on real infrastructure improvements and targeted enforcement for reckless driving, rather than a blanket speed reduction that disrupts the daily lives of tens of thousands of local drivers.
Sign this petition to tell our local officials: Keep Owensboro moving at 65 MPH!
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The Issue
To: Daviess County Fiscal Court, Owensboro City Commission, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC District 2)
Why this is important:
On June 23, 2026, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet abruptly announced that the speed limit on the U.S. 60 Wendell H. Ford Expressway (the Owensboro bypass) would drop from 65 mph to 55 mph. This change, requested by local officials, is a reactive measure that will penalize daily commuters without addressing the actual causes of accidents on the bypass.
While safety is a priority for everyone in Daviess County, artificially lowering the speed limit on a major expressway that carries over 41,000 vehicles a day is not the answer. When the speed limit was raised to 65 mph in 2017, traffic studies showed that 85% of drivers were naturally driving at that speed.
Dropping the limit back to 55 mph will create new dangers:
Speed Discrepancies: Many drivers will continue to drive the natural speed of the highway (65 mph), while others will abruptly slow down to 55 mph. This 10+ mph gap between vehicles is a major cause of rear-end collisions and road rage.
Congestion: Slower speeds on our busiest corridor will increase congestion, making merging more difficult and causing backups at peak hours.
Ignoring Better Solutions: The KYTC is already planning to install median cable barriers to prevent severe crossover crashes, which is a fantastic, proven safety measure. Furthermore, safety improvements should focus on extending merge lanes and improving on-ramp visibility, rather than slowing down the entire flow of traffic.
We, the residents and daily commuters of Daviess County, ask the Daviess County Fiscal Court and the Owensboro City Commission to formally request the KYTC to reverse this decision and restore the 65 mph speed limit. Let's focus on real infrastructure improvements and targeted enforcement for reckless driving, rather than a blanket speed reduction that disrupts the daily lives of tens of thousands of local drivers.
Sign this petition to tell our local officials: Keep Owensboro moving at 65 MPH!
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Petition created on June 23, 2026