an energy - absorbing device in the form of a safety device against shock loads for a track - borne vehicle includes an energy - absorbing member and a mating member . the mating member co - operates with the energy - absorbing member in such a way that , if a critical shock force applied to the energy - absorbing device is exceeded , the mating member and the energy - absorbing member move relative to one another , towards one another , while at the same time absorbing at least some of the shock energy which is applied to the energy - absorbing device . to enable the overall energy which can be dissipated by the energy - absorbing device to be increased in a way which is easy to implement , provision is made for the energy - absorbing member to have at least one energy - absorbing region made of fibrous composite material which , in the course of the movement of the mating member relative to the energy - absorbing member , is at least partly reduced to fibers non - ductilely .