Where are the crush zones typically located on a vehicle?

The correct response identifies the front and rear of the vehicle as the typical locations for crush zones, an essential design feature in modern vehicle safety engineering. Crush zones are specifically engineered to absorb and dissipate kinetic energy during a collision, helping to protect the occupants inside the vehicle.

By being located at the front and rear, these zones can effectively manage the impact forces that occur during a frontal or rear collision. This design minimizes the risk of injury to passengers by reducing the amount of energy transferred to the passenger compartment.

The importance of having these zones at the extremities of a vehicle is also tied to crash test results and safety ratings that are critical for consumer safety assessments. By absorbing impact energy, the integrity of the passenger cell, which houses the occupants, remains more intact during accidents, thereby enhancing overall vehicle safety. This reinforces the role of the front and rear crush zones in improving crashworthiness, which is a paramount consideration in automotive design.