Method for increasing the crash resistance of a motor vehicle, and block element used therewith

A method for increasing the crash resistance of a motor vehicle in which, in an intervening space between a front face of a vehicle side door adjoining an A-pillar, and an outer face of the A-pillar opposite the former, is fitted a blocking element bridging the intervening space when the vehicle door is closed, the method comprising the following steps:

• provision of a blocking element having two blocking parts which are connected with each other such that, in an initial state, they can be moved relative to each other under the action of an adjusting force, whereby a longitudinal dimension (L) of the blocking element is adjustable, and which can be fixed relative to each other in an initial state, so that a force arising in a crash in the direction of the longitudinal dimension (L) or the force absorption direction can be absorbed,
• attachment of the blocking element with the vehicle door open, in which one of the blocking parts is fastened to the front face of the vehicle door or to the outside of the A-pillar and in which the blocking parts are fitted relative to each other such that the blocking element has a greater length (L) than the intervening space when the vehicle door is closed,
• closing of the vehicle door, in which the other blocking part comes into contact with the A-pillar or the vehicle door and the blocking parts are moved automatically relative to each other into an assembly position, in which they fundamentally bridge completely the intervening space when the vehicle door is closed, and
• fixing of the blocking parts relative to each other in the assembly position.