This paper reports on the development of a new front fender structure designed to mitigate pedestrian head injuries in passenger car-to-pedestrian collisions. The new structure is characterized by fender drip brackets that incorporate a break-off mechanism in the riveted joints between the fender and brackets. It maintains necessary joint stiffness for normal driving use while having sufficient impact energy absorption capability because the riveted joints rupture when they are subjected to a certain level of impact force during a collision, thereby promoting deformation of the fender cross section. The prototype test shows that HIC levels ware reduced by approximately 50% compared with the conventional fender structure.