PURPOSE: To improve absorbing energy quantity and surely reduce shock energy even at non-operation of a occupant crash protection bag by receiving a bag expanding downward in a bag receiving part on the vehicle chamber-side part of a vehicle body upper part, and providing a shock absorbing means on one end part of a steering shaft.

CONSTITUTION: A head console box part 10 is provided above a steering wheel 8, and an air bag 15 is stored above its opening part 12b. A control unit 20 operates an inflator 16 when the shock detecting output from a shock sensor 17 is supplied thereto. Further, as a shock absorbing means, an energy absorbing pad 26 is interposed between the steering wheel 8 and a steering shaft 9. The energy absorbing pad internally has a space part, and is formed from, for example, a comparatively thin steel plate. The air bag 15 is expanded down toward the upper part of the steering 8, and the impact force added to a passenger CR, in addition, is absorbed also by the deformation of the energy absorbing pad 26.