A passive safety system is provided for a vehicle. The passive safety system includes a support frame configured to be secured on the vehicle in a fixed position and a support surface configured to support a payload carried by the vehicle. The support surface is configured to float with respect to the support frame. The passive safety system includes an energy conversion device between the support frame and the support surface, and includes a frictional surface configured to engage a portion of the support surface when the support surface tends to move in a predetermined direction with respect to the support frame to thereby convert kinetic energy of the support surface into frictional energy and increase the stopping/braking distance.