CREW PROTECTION SYSTEM

An occupant protection apparatus includes an air bag device 20 for deploying an air bag between a steering wheel 11 and an occupant H and an impact-energy-absorption-type steering column 12 equipped with an energy-absorbing mechanism 30, and absorbs impact energy of the occupant H during a vehicle collision event. Both the air bag device 20 and the energy-absorbing mechanism 30 are of a variable energy absorption load type. When their energy absorption loads are varied, the energy absorption loads change in the same direction.