The invention relates to a method for determining at least one activation parameter for a safety means which may be operated in at least two operating states in a motor vehicle, whereby the operating state of the safety means may be altered depending on a result of a comparison of the activation parameter with a given threshold value. Object data for at least one object in the vicinity of the vehicle is recorded by means of a proximity sensor, said object data comprising a position of the object, a speed of the object and a direction of movement of the object. The invention is characterised in that a first trajectory for the object is determined from the object data, used for the determination of a first duration until a latest point of time at which a driving manoeuvre for avoiding a collision with the object may be carried out, and that the activation parameter is determined depending on the first duration. The invention further relates to a method for controlling a safety means and arrangements for carrying out said method.