Crumple zones in vehicles lessen the force felt by passengers during a crash through two main mechanisms. Firstly, crumple zones absorb and dissipate energy through controlled deformation. When a collision occurs, these zones crumple and collapse, spreading out the force over a longer duration and reducing the peak force experienced by passengers. Secondly, crumple zones divert crash forces away from the passenger compartment by deforming in a pattern that directs the impact towards less critical areas of the vehicle. This helps protect the passenger compartment from bearing the brunt of the impact, minimizing the risk of injury to occupants. Overall, crumple zones work through energy absorption and diversion of crash forces to improve vehicle safety and lessen the force felt by passengers during a crash.