To minimize the risk of a driver being impaled in a collision, most modern steering columns are:

most modern columns are made up of steering shafts inside the steering column to avoid driver been impaled by the steering rod or by the steering wheel during a collision

Explanation:

Modern steering columns (the rod where the steering wheel is attached) is made up of a steering shaft which is part of the steering column and it is on this shaft the steering wheel is actually mounted.

the steering shaft collapses whenever there is an accident therefore taking the steering wheel away from the driver and this the driver from been impaled/injured severely in an accident.  

answer; always; never;