An impact absorbing steering apparatus, comprising: a steering column; a steering shaft (5, 5a) that is supported on the inside of the steering column such that it rotates freely, and is capable of supporting and fastening to a steering wheel on the rear end section that protrudes from the opening on the rear end of the steering column; a bracket on the column side that comprises a pair of installation plate sections (17e, 17f) that protrude toward both the left and right sides of the steering column and that are connected to and supported by a portion that is fastened to a vehicle body such that these installation plate sections drop away toward the front due to an impact load in the forward direction, and is supported by the steering column and supported by the vehicle body such that displacement in the axial direction together with the steering column is possible; and an electric power steering apparatus that comprises a housing that is supported by the front end section of the steering column, and an electric motor that protruded to one side from this housing, and that, with this electric motor as a power source, applies an auxiliary torque for the rotation of the steering shaft; wherein the distances from the center axis of the steering column to the connecting sections between the installation plate sections and the portion fastened to the vehicle body are different from each other on both sides of the steering column, characterized in that the distance (Le) for the installation plate section located on the side where the electric motor is located is shorter than the distance (Lf) for the installation plate section that is located on the opposite side from the electric motor. a steering column; a steering shaft (5, 5a) that is supported on the inside of the steering column such that it rotates freely, and is capable of supporting and fastening to a steering wheel on the rear end section that protrudes from the opening on the rear end of the steering column; a bracket on the column side that comprises a pair of installation plate sections (17e, 17f) that protrude toward both the left and right sides of the steering column and that are connected to and supported by a portion that is fastened to a vehicle body such that these installation plate sections drop away toward the front due to an impact load in the forward direction, and is supported by the steering column and supported by the vehicle body such that displacement in the axial direction together with the steering column is possible; and an electric power steering apparatus that comprises a housing that is supported by the front end section of the steering column, and an electric motor that protruded to one side from this housing, and that, with this electric motor as a power source, applies an auxiliary torque for the rotation of the steering shaft; wherein the distances from the center axis of the steering column to the connecting sections between the installation plate sections and the portion fastened to the vehicle body are different from each other on both sides of the steering column, characterized in that the distance (Le) for the installation plate section located on the side where the electric motor is located is shorter than the distance (Lf) for the installation plate section that is located on the opposite side from the electric motor.