More than 51 million drivers are expected to hit the roads this holiday season, a 1.7 percent increase from last year. And although gasoline prices are up, transportation analysts expect record traffic on the nation's highways and airports as Christmas approaches.

In many states, like Massachusetts, police will crack down on holiday drunks behind the wheel.

Those who prefer the air to the skies will face stepped-up random screenings at airport checkpoints, a security measure meant to dissuade terrorists. In the past, boarding passes indicated which passengers had been randomly selected by computer for screening. Travelers also attracted additional scrutiny if they set off a metal detector. As of Thursday, passengers and their bags will be subject to more screenings. In most cases the process should take about two minutes. Airport officials don't expect the changes to have a major impact on security and neither do most passengers. In addition, the federal Transportation Security Administration will update its prohibited items list to allow scissors that are less than 4 inches long from the fulcrum and tools that are less than 7 inches long.

Knives will remain on the prohibited items list.