A brake pedal assembly 12 for a vehicle includes a pedal 14 and a foot pad 16 operatively engageable by the operator of a vehicle. The pedal assembly 12 also includes a collapsible push rod 22 connected between the pedal 14 and a hydraulic actuator assembly 20. The push rod 40 has a transverse slot 44 formed therein with a tapered surface 46 that increases in separation distance from a first end 48 toward a second end 50. A pin 42 is disposed in the second end of the slot 44 for connecting the push rod 40 to pedal 14 during normal vehicle operation. The pin 42 is movable toward the second end of slot 44 upon experiencing a force greater than a predetermined force threshold. In doing so, pin 42 deforms slot 44 of push rod 40 in an energy consuming manner to reduce the amount of force otherwise applied to pedal 14. Accordingly, the pedal assembly 12 reduces forces that may otherwise be transferred to the operator of the vehicle during a collision.