SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) - Families all across the Upstate will be traveling to see loved ones this holiday season, but it can be one of the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road.

Safe Kids of The Piedmont shared tips on how to stay safe these next few weeks.

Penny Shaw, the program director, said crashes are a leading cause of death for children over the age of one. It's crucial for parents to plan ahead with more people being on the roads.

She suggested parents make sure their car seats are installed correctly.

"One and five car seats are usually buckled improperly," Shaw said. "You're talking about four out of five that are incorrect when they're buckled into their car seats. Until I was a car seat technician, my car seats weren't in properly."

It is something so simple that can be the difference between life and death for your children.

"Most people think they do it right, but once you have a car seat technician take a look at it and educate you on the proper way to install it, you're just amazed by it," Shaw said. "How did my child live this long?"

She said checks can be done at Safe Kids of the Piedmont and many local fire departments perform them as well.

Shaw explained the importance of wearing a seatbelt and making sure it's worn properly.

"Seatbelts are on the shoulder, across the chest, and across the hips. Not behind the back," she said. "You can be injured by seatbelt if it's not worn properly, so we want to make sure that it's sitting where it needs to be. Seatbelts are created to prevent ejection and if you don't put it on properly, you can still come out of that seatbelt."

Shaw said children often try to get out of their seatbelt to get more comfortable on a long road trip. She advised parents to stay alert at all times.

"I would say both parents need to stay awake," Shaw said. "I know you want to nap, but if it's a long traveling journey, please both parents stay awake and stay alert. Make sure your children are buckled up properly and stay buckled up properly the entire ride."

Parents should also prepare an emergency travel kit, pack food and water, and bring activities to keep the children occupied.

She said iPads or other screens are fine, but could be dangerous in an accident.

"What we want to make sure we're doing though is nothing that can be a projectile. Everything loose in the vehicle, that's not in a seat back or put down and strapped down like a child, is considered a projectile," Shaw explained. "In the event of a collision, they're going to roam around the vehicle and possibly injured a child. That's why we recommend light objects like books or coloring books."