Collapsible steering shaft assembly

Apparatus comprising:

• first and second steering shafts;
• and
• a torque transmitting hinge joint pivotally connecting said first shaft directly with said second shaft and blocking pivotal movement between said first and second shafts in first directions relative to each other when said first and second shafts are in first positions;
• said second shaft including a pair of relatively pivotal shaft sections which are interconnected by a bendable joint, said bendable joint comprising a stress riser which is inelastically deformable under stress induced by a predetermined vehicle crash force so as to initiate inelastic bending of said second shaft at said bendable joint.