By John Fritze — Maryland drivers will soon receive notice of open recalls on their vehicles when it is time to renew their registrations under a program announced Friday by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

State and federal transportation officials described the two-year pilot program as a first-in-the-nation effort to ensure that owners are aware of problems such as the Takata airbag recall, which has affected tens of millions of vehicles nationwide.

Beginning next year, when Maryland car owners and lessees receive registration renewal documents from the Motor Vehicle Administration, they will also receive information about recalls specific to their car.

That information will also be sent to car owners who receive email reminders about their registration deadline.

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