Crumple zones and safety cages
In frontal, rear and offset crashes, modern vehicles protect occupants by absorbing crash energy and reducing the forces transmitted to the driver and passengers.
The front and rear of a vehicle act as crush zones designed to crumple in a controlled and progressive manner, allowing the occupant compartment to decelerate more slowly.
Slower deceleration means less force reaches the occupants, so there is a lower chance of injury.
Safety cages
The occupant compartment is a robust safety cage that diverts and dissipates crash energy and preserves the occupants' ‘survival space’ as much as possible.
The safety cage should include strong pillars to stop the roof from collapsing in roll-over crashes, as well as barriers to prevent the wheels, bonnet or engine intruding into the occupant compartment.
Door locks and hinges also form part of the safety cage and should remain intact so occupants are not thrown from the vehicle.
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