NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — With all of the traffic on the roads this holiday season, the Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University is reminding parents why keeping their kids in rear-facing car seats longer is better. "The guidelines right now from the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, are to rear-face your kids as long as possible.," said Dr. Kelli England, clinical psychologist and Toy Savage endowed professor of pediatrics at the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. "And that's well past age two, even up to age four." England produced a new public service video that shows the impact of a crash on a child facing forward versus a child facing the rear of the car. "Most crashes are frontal," England said. "So everything in the car goes forward and so, if they're rear-facing, the seat goes forward and the child is really cradled through the crash and their head and spine are kept aligned." She added that if we could all ride and drive backward we would, because it's just safer. Some parents think their toddler is bored facing the back, but in reality, England said, if they've always faced the rear, they don't know the difference. Other well-meaning parents may worry their toddler's longer legs are getting squished. "It does seem like it would be uncomfortable because for us it would be. But for them, that's very normal. The way that they move their bodies and their bodies are very flexible at that age," England said. Experts advise that you pay attention to the height and weight restrictions, which are labeled on each seat. If you're unsure when kids should graduate from car seats to booster seats to seat belts, you can take a car seat fit test online. If you can't afford a car seat, you may be eligible for a free one through the Virginia Department of Health. Click here to apply.