What are the three collisions in a crash?

• A. Vehicle; Human; Internal
• B. Vehicle; Pedestrian; Property
• C. Front; Side; Rear
• D. Minor; Major; Catastrophic

Answer: (A)

During a crash, energy is dissipated through three distinct interactions. First, the vehicle itself collides with another vehicle or an object, which starts the energy transfer. Second, the occupant continues moving forward relative to the vehicle and strikes interior surfaces such as the dashboard, steering wheel, or windshield frame; this is the occupant collision. Third, the rapid deceleration causes the body's internal parts to collide with internal structures, like ribs or other organs; this is the internal collision. Protective systems like seat belts and airbags are designed to reduce the second and third collisions by restraining the occupant and cushioning impacts. The other options describe who or what is involved or the direction of impact rather than the sequential physical interactions that define the three-collision model.