SHOCK-ABSORBING MEMBER FOR VEHICLE

An impact absorbing unit for a vehicle which is subjected to an axial compressive force from the impact in the event of a traffic collision, which includes a columnar piece of wood (21; 121; 161) and a metallic housing (31; 131r; 171) covering lateral faces ofthe piece ofwood. The housing has an uneven configuration (33; 35; 141r-144r; 181r-184r) formed in an outer surface or an inner surface, and the housing bulges outwards when subjected to an axial compressive force.