A method for triggering an occupant protection device in a vehicle
including the steps: detecting a first measured variable and
simultaneously generating a corresponding first signal for indicating a
necessity for triggering at least one occupant protection device;
detecting an acceleration value in the z direction and simultaneously
generating a corresponding second signal; calculating a trigger signal
for triggering at least one occupant protection device as a function of
the first and second signals, and triggering the at least one occupant
protection device as a function of the calculated trigger signal. An
appropriate device is also described.