Which parts of a unibody vehicle structure help to keep passengers safe in the event of a collision?

Crush zones play a critical role in enhancing passenger safety during a collision in a unibody vehicle structure. These areas are specifically designed to deform and absorb energy upon impact, which helps to reduce the amount of force transmitted to the occupants. By absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy through controlled crumpling, crush zones effectively lower the likelihood of serious injury to passengers.

In contrast, while reinforcement bars, impact absorbers, and safety cages also contribute to the overall safety framework of a vehicle, they serve different functions. Reinforcement bars provide added strength to the structure but do not primarily absorb energy. Impact absorbers are often utilized in various components to lessen the force of impact but are not primarily the focus in unibody structures. Safety cages are designed to maintain passenger compartment integrity during an impact, but the implementation of crush zones is specifically aimed at managing crash energy effectively and is a fundamental aspect of modern vehicle design for occupant protection.