Abstract: A motor vehicle brake or clutch pedal comprising a two part blade with a first blade part (1) adapted at one end to carry a foot pad, and a second blade part (2) adapted to be connected to a push rod of an operating mechanism of either a brake booster or a clutch, with means to disconnect, or to render ineffective, the connection between the second blade part (2) and the push rod in a frontal crash situation of sufficient magnitude. The invention also includes a motor vehicle incorporating at least one such pedal.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for permitting retraction of a vehicle foot pedal, operable on a push rod, in a frontal crash of sufficient magnitude. The push rod is of low ductability material, having a zone of weakness. A rotary member is attached to, and mounted on the blade for free rotation about a pivot, by which rotary member the blade is operably coupled to the push rod; and an activation arm is provided to cause partial rotation of the rotary member upon a frontal impact of sufficient magnitude, to apply a bending moment to the push rod to snap the push rod at its zone of weakness. This disconnects the push rod from the blade permitting free blade/pedal movement, and hence permitting retraction of the foot pedal away from the feet of the driver.

Abstract: A pedal box for a vehicle (V), comprises a pedal (E) pivotally mounted intermediate its end on a pedal pin (PP) carried by the pedal box, so as to have, beyond each side of the pedal pivot (PP), a lower pedal part carrying a footpad (FP), and an upper pedal part; an abutment surface (S) provided in or on the upper pedal part and so located with respect to the pedal pivot axis (PP) that the abutment surface (S) is beyond a top dead center position of the pedal pivot (PP) at the driver/passenger compartment (PC) side; and an activation device (C, D) adapted, in use, to be secured between a portion (Q) of the vehicle (V) designed to deform upon frontal impact, and a portion (P) of the vehicle (V) designed for minimal deformation upon frontal impact and, upon activation, to engage the abutment surface (S) such that the upper pedal part is rotated towards the driver/passenger compartment (PC), and the lower pedal part is rotated away from the driver/passenger compartment (PC).