collapsible steering shaft

the steering shaft in my duster was seperated when I bought it, at the plastic injection points. The lower part of the shaft that attaches to the steering coupling and steering gear box will slide in and out at will. The question is, I know this is so it will shear in case of an accident, but can you drive the car like this, since the gear box isn't going anywhere, and the tube is bolted to the dash frame and the firewall, or can the steering wheel actually still move in and out. Are these little plastic pieces actually holding the steering shaft together, or can I just slip them over each other when I install it and go?

Any help is appreciated.

Will