Method and device for actuating a passenger protection means

In a method for actuating a vehicle occupant protection system, a sensor senses driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection device can be triggered to move into an effective position, prior to an imminent collision. A setpoint braking deceleration, which triggers the vehicle occupant protection device when a threshold value is exceeded, is determined by a predictive surroundings sensing unit in advance of an imminent collision. A check is made to determine whether the setpoint braking deceleration exceeds a threshold value, by referring to a deceleration characteristic curve that is dependent on the vehicle speed.