CONCORD, N.H.  (MyKeeneNow) With one of the busiest travel weekends of the year set to begin, New Hampshire police agencies are preparing for an intensified push against impaired driving.

State officials confirmed Monday that troopers, deputies and local officers will fan out across New Hampshire roads beginning tonight—Thanksgiving Eve—and continue the heightened patrols through the end of the holiday season. The initiative expands routine enforcement and places particular emphasis on spotting drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The coordinated effort is being led by the state Office of Highway Safety and relies on federal funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Officials say the timing is deliberate: crash data from the past five Thanksgiving travel periods show five people were killed and nine others injured in incidents on New Hampshire roads, with impairment playing a role in most of those fatal crashes.

Public safety leaders urged residents to take precautions before heading out for holiday gatherings.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte said New Hampshire is “stepping up enforcement so families can get where they’re going safely,” urging drivers to make plans for sober transportation and to watch out for one another on crowded roads.

Erin Sterling, acting regional administrator with NHTSA, said the agency continues to prioritize roadway safety during a time when impaired driving typically ticks upward. “The choices made behind the wheel during the holidays can change lives in an instant,” she said.

New Hampshire State Police Lt. Christopher Storm said drivers should expect a strong presence from troopers throughout the long weekend. “We’re putting extra eyes on the road because one impaired driver can devastate an entire family,” he said.

County and local law enforcement leaders echoed that message. Belknap County Sheriff William Wright said deputies will saturate roads in his county in search of impaired motorists, and Atkinson Police Chief Timothy Crowley reminded residents to stay alert, follow speed limits and keep devices hands-free.

Transportation Commissioner William Cass also urged patience as weather forecasts call for quickly changing conditions. “What you do behind the wheel directly influences the safety of everyone around you,” he said.

State officials recommend designating a sober driver, arranging a taxi or rideshare, and calling 911 to report suspected impaired drivers. Additional holiday travel safety tips are available through NHTSA.