A method for warning road users by means of surroundings monitoring for a running vehicle is disclosed and furthermore situation detection for the road users in the surroundings of the running vehicle and ascertainment of the probable paths of movement of the running vehicle and the other road users, furthermore ascertainment of an impending hazard situation and, if an impending hazard situation is ascertained, audible warning in and around the running vehicle. Furthermore, an apparatus for performing the method for warning road users is disclosed, wherein the running vehicle is in the form of a land vehicle and the other road users can move in a ground-based manner.