A collapsing steering column assembly comprising: a) a steering shaft support structure (20,22); b) a steering shaft that is supported for rotation at least in part by the steering shaft support structure (20,22) and having a longitudinal axis; c) a bracket for at least partially carrying the steering shaft support structure (20,22) and attaching the assembly within a vehicle, wherein the bracket includes a pair of generally opposing downwardly oriented walls that flank at least a portion of the steering shaft support structure (20,22); d) a securing member for fixing a secure engagement position of the steering shaft support structure (20,22) relative to the bracket; and e) a breakaway structure associated with the bracket, the securing member, or both; wherein the securing member is configured relative to the breakaway structure in a manner such that in an event of an impact exceeding a threshold load, at least a portion of the securing member breaks away from the secure engagement position by way of the breakaway structure and allows at least a portion of the steering shaft support structure (20,22), at least a portion of the securing member that breaks away, or both to translate forward; characterized in that the breakaway structure includes at least one breakaway insert that is operatively attached with at least one of the downwardly oriented walls when the steering shaft support structure (20,22) is in the secure engagement position. a) a steering shaft support structure (20,22); b) a steering shaft that is supported for rotation at least in part by the steering shaft support structure (20,22) and having a longitudinal axis; c) a bracket for at least partially carrying the steering shaft support structure (20,22) and attaching the assembly within a vehicle, wherein the bracket includes a pair of generally opposing downwardly oriented walls that flank at least a portion of the steering shaft support structure (20,22); d) a securing member for fixing a secure engagement position of the steering shaft support structure (20,22) relative to the bracket; and e) a breakaway structure associated with the bracket, the securing member, or both; wherein the securing member is configured relative to the breakaway structure in a manner such that in an event of an impact exceeding a threshold load, at least a portion of the securing member breaks away from the secure engagement position by way of the breakaway structure and allows at least a portion of the steering shaft support structure (20,22), at least a portion of the securing member that breaks away, or both to translate forward; characterized in that the breakaway structure includes at least one breakaway insert that is operatively attached with at least one of the downwardly oriented walls when the steering shaft support structure (20,22) is in the secure engagement position. wherein the securing member is configured relative to the breakaway structure in a manner such that in an event of an impact exceeding a threshold load, at least a portion of the securing member breaks away from the secure engagement position by way of the breakaway structure and allows at least a portion of the steering shaft support structure (20,22), at least a portion of the securing member that breaks away, or both to translate forward; characterized in that the breakaway structure includes at least one breakaway insert that is operatively attached with at least one of the downwardly oriented walls when the steering shaft support structure (20,22) is in the secure engagement position.