Approximately how long does the entire vehicle crash process take?

• A. 100-125 milliseconds
• B. 1-2 milliseconds
• C. 10-15 seconds
• D. 1-2 seconds

Answer: (A)

Crashes unfold in an incredibly brief burst of energy transfer and deformation. When the front of a vehicle hits another object, the impact energy is absorbed and the frame crumples, debris collide, and the major deceleration happens in just a fraction of a second. The peak deceleration pulse, which ends the main part of the crash, typically completes in about one tenth of a second. Airbags and restraints deploy and do their work within tens of milliseconds, all within roughly 0.1 to 0.15 seconds. So the whole crash event—from first contact to the end of the significant deceleration—falls in the vicinity of 100 to 125 milliseconds.

That’s why this option fits best: other timings are either far too short for the physical processes of a vehicle structure, or far too long for how quickly a crash actually unfolds.