PIKESVILLE — With extra traffic expected this Thanksgiving holiday, Maryland State Police will have additional troopers on patrol who will be using a variety of initiatives to keep traffic moving, respond quickly to highway incidents and take appropriate enforcement action when violations are observed that threaten the safety of travelers.

Starting on Thursday, troopers from each of the 23 barracks statewide will be focusing enforcement efforts on impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving and other violations that often contribute to highway tragedies, especially during holiday seasons.

Additional troopers will be working overtime assignments funded by highway safety grants from the Maryland Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.

On the Lower Eastern Shore the heaviest enforcement will be on Rt. 50 and Rt. 13. Impaired driving and speed enforcement will be the priorities there.

Drivers can check travel conditions and delays before traveling. SHA provides up-to-date traffic and road conditions at roads.maryland.gov, or chart.state.md.us. Traffic conditions are also available at md511.org, or by safely dialing 511 on your cell phone.

During the month of October, the Princess Anne Barrack stopped several motorists who were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: Ronald Earl Groton 3rd, 19 years old, of Salisbury; Floyd Thomas Bivens, 51, of Norfolk; Shykela Renee Smith, 26, of Philadelphia; Fredric Ronald Sawyer, 81, of  Pocomoke City; Aaron Dean Johnson, 43, of Marion; Rudi Marino Ochoa Merida, 46, of Alexandria; Devin Percell Little, 41, of Salisbury; Marion Franziska Dunnuck, 62, of Fairmount; and Arthur Roosevelt Waters, 55, of Princess Anne.

Each defendant has or will be scheduled for trial in Somerset County District Court.