Final answer:
Seatbelts and airbags function to minimize the impact of all types of collisions by extending the collision time, thereby reducing the force experienced by passengers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Seatbelts are designed to minimize the impact of all types of collisions, including frontal, rear-end, and side-impact. They work in conjunction with airbags to reduce the force on passengers by extending the amount of time over which the force is applied, according to the concept of impulse. This decrease in force helps in preventing serious injuries and can be life-saving. The use of plastics and car design that allows crumpling also contributes to increased collision time and reduced force.