What does crashworthiness refer to?

• A. Ability of vehicles to operate at high speeds
• B. Ability of a structure to support heavy loads
• C. Ability of a structure to protect occupants during an impact
• D. Ability of vehicles to avoid collisions entirely

Answer: (C)

Crashworthiness refers to the design aspects of a vehicle that ensure the safety of its occupants during a collision. It encompasses the ability of the vehicle structure to absorb and dissipate energy from an impact, thereby mitigating injury to the occupants. This involves features like crumple zones, airbags, and reinforced passenger compartments, which are specifically intended to protect individuals inside the vehicle when a crash occurs.

The other options focus on different aspects of vehicle performance and structural integrity. Operating at high speeds addresses vehicle performance rather than occupant safety. Supporting heavy loads pertains to structural integrity but is not specifically related to crash scenarios. Avoiding collisions entirely is related to accident prevention rather than the measures taken to protect occupants during a crash. Therefore, the correct understanding of crashworthiness is centered around occupant protection in the event of an accident.