The TAC also reported that drivers were twice as likely to be killed in a crash if their car is more than 10 years old.

The data was released in an effort to encourage drivers to consider safety features when buying cars.

TAC lead director road safety Samantha Cockfield said older cars did not have autonomous emergency braking, electronic stability control or side and curtain airbags.

She said these additions to newer cars reduced the likelihood of trauma on the roads.

“Our message to anyone buying a car – new or used – is to buy the safest car you can,” Ms Cockfield said.

“We know older vehicles are less likely to have some of these safety technologies, meaning they pose a higher risk of being involved in a crash and provide less protection for drivers and passengers.”

The average age of vehicles on Victoria’s roads is close to 10 years and is steadily rising as older cars increase in affordability.

There are 4.6 million vehicles registered in Victoria, and two million were built more than 10 years ago – about 42 per cent.

The push for drivers to consider safer vehicles is part of the TAC and VicRoads Towards Zero campaign.

RACV vehicle engineering manager Michael Case said safety features in cars had advanced greatly in the last 10 years.

“RACV encourages Victorians to choose vehicles fitted with reverse autonomous emergency braking technology when buying a new car,” he said.

“Parking sensors and reversing cameras can greatly improve reversing visibility, and while a vehicle equipped with this significantly increases a car’s safety, driver diligence and supervision are still essential components of navigating driveways safely.”