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Local and state authorities are urging holiday travelers to be cautious and wear seat belts while on the road during the holidays.

State numbers

Last Thanksgiving -- during an 102-hour period -- 10 people were killed on Tennessee roads, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety.

Although that's a decrease from 2007, when 13 people died, authorities will still be on the roads checking seat belts and sobriety.

Local traffic

Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said that traffic in the area picks up the day after Thanksgiving, but the injury ratio in Maryville doesn't necessarily increase during the holidays, because there is more people driving on area roads.

"A lot of people are off (work) and it is a large retail day and we see a real heavy influx of traffic," he said. The month of December is typically a high month as far as accidents."

Checkpoint scheduled

What: Blount County sobriety checkpoint
When: Nov. 27 in the evening
Where: U.S. 411 at 129

Other holiday safety tips

Keep gifts and other valuables in the trunk while shopping, instead of in plain view.

If you go out of town, keep your house well-lit and have your mail stopped, so it won't be obvious no one is home.