In a device and a method for increasing the safety of a motor vehicle, a first sensor unit (2) detects the environment, in particular free spaces and objects (0) and the position and motion thereof, a second sensor unit (20) detects the environment state, a third sensor unit (30) detects the vehicle state, and a fourth sensor unit (40) detects the driver inputs. The respective data from the several sensor units are combined. In consideration of the data, a driving safety coordinator (6) calculates the risk of collision on the basis of a risk evaluation, and determines pre-collision phases (P1, P2, P3, P4a, P4b) of the motor vehicle (1) with regard to the object (0).