Maryland's Vernon F. Betkey Jr., an official of the State Highway Administration, has become the first person to be elected to a third term as chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Administration -- a national organization of state transportation officials working to reduce death and injuries on the nation's roads.

Betkey, director of Maryland's Highway Safety Office, will hold the position until the association's next general meeting in September.

The 25-year Maryland State Police veteran said the association's No. 1 goal over the next year will be passage of a  new, six-year federal highway reauthorization bill that includes increased safety funding. He identified distracted driving, pedestrian safety and aggressive driving as important emerging issue in addition to traditional causes such as promoting seat belt use and curbing drunk driving.