ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Impact attenuator

So, when you're driving in a car and you crash, it's very dangerous! But, there are special things called impact attenuators that can help keep you safe.

An impact attenuator is a special kind of cushion that is placed in front of things like walls, barriers, or other hard things that you might crash into. The cushion is there to help slow you down and absorb some of the impact, so that you don't get hurt as badly.

Think of it like jumping into a big pile of pillows instead of jumping onto the hard floor. The pillows will help slow you down and keep you from getting hurt.

Impact attenuators come in all different shapes and sizes, and they're made from all kinds of different materials. Some are made from foam, while others are made from metal or even sand. But no matter what they're made of, their job is always the same - to make sure that if you crash into something, you don't get hurt as badly as you would have otherwise.
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