The number of Victorians dying in older cars has led to a plea to car buyers to do their research and put safety first.

Figures from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) show around two thirds of drivers and passengers killed on Victorian roads last year were travelling in vehicles aged more than ten years old.

The organisation said so far in 2022, 28 out of the 54 driver and passenger deaths have occurred in a vehicle built more than a decade ago and the average vehicle on Victoria’s roads is around ten years old.

“It is important when buying a car – whether it be new or used – not to overlook safety features that can step in and reduce the severity of a crash or help avoid one altogether,” said Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll

“It’s a myth that you need to spend big bucks on an expensive new car. Whether you’re choosing a car for yourself or your family you can find a safe, affordable used car to suit your budget and needs – and it could save your life.”

The data support the Victorian Government’s push for people to drive safer cars in a bid to help slash road trauma and reduce the average age of the state’s fleet.

The TAC urged people to look out for life-saving safety features including auto-emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, electronic stability control, and front, side, and curtain airbags.

It comes as Victoria successfully worked with the Commonwealth Government to ensure all newly introduced models sold in Australia from March 2023 are fitted with autonomous emergency braking – which is expected to save dozens of lives across the country each year.