Safety A Focus At International Auto Show In Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The International Auto Show has parked in Baltimore for the weekend, and it's giving car lovers a chance to check out not only the hottest wheels, but also the safest vehicles.

Amy Yensi with the latest on safety technology.

Cars that keep you in your lane; trucks that beep if you're dangerously close--the Motor Trend International Auto Show gives drivers a chance to try the latest safety features of over 500 cars.

Car expert Charlie Vogelheim says safety features are the future.

"As more vehicles get these safety features, they'll become less expensive and they'll be available on most cars," said Vogelheim.

That's a good thing. There were more than 442 traffic deaths in Maryland in 2014, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Drivers 16 to 19 are three times more likely to be involved in motor vehicle accident with fatalities," said Fred Ligouri, Chevrolet.

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu includes a teen driver setting that sets parental controls and generates a report card of driving habits.

"Which, in this vehicle, shows the total distance driven, the maximum speed traveled, any overspeed warnings," said Ligouri.

So what's hot in 2016 are connected cars. They bring the features from your smartphone to the car's display, that way you're less likely to use your phone when behind the wheel.

"Your phone is put away. It's plugged in, but it's not in front of you, in your hand. And that's an important thing here," said Vogelheim.

Most innovations keep you safe while driving, but a portable jumpstart kit helps if you're stranded on the road.

"You can inflate your tires," one man said.

"Just go in your glovebox, pull it out, put it on and go with it. It's all safety," said another man.

We're not quite at the stage where cars drive themselves, but we are getting a lot of help on the road.

In the near future, these types of safety features will be factored into the overall safety of a vehicle.

The Auto Show will be at the Baltimore Convention Center through Sunday.