Energy - absorbing steering column successfully reduces injury but new impact patterns emerge.

First analyses of field experience with energy-absorbing steering columns show that: Collasible assemblies reduce injury severity in front-end collisions. Injury increases with crash severity. Load required to crush the columns is non injury producing. Chance of the head impacting the vehicle interior is higher in cars with collapsible columns.Column collapse does not always occur and the deformed steering wheel can cause injury under these conditions.