Answer
“Crumple zones” are similar to airbags. As the crumple zone collapses, the process increases the time over which a stopping force acts on the car. This allows for a smaller average force to act on the car, which reduces the chance for a serious injury to the occupants.
Work Step by Step
Increased stopping time lowers average force and can help reduce injury. Modern vehicles are designed to increase stopping time in a number of ways, including crumple zones and airbags.