1. Protection device for a motor vehicle.2.1. A protection device for a motor vehicle with a flexible sheetlike structure which is arranged on a winding shaft in a manner such that it can be wound up and unwound between an inoperative position and a protection position, the winding shaft being acted upon by torque in the winding-up direction by means of a winding spring arrangement, the winding-up force of which can be reduced by means of a control mechanism, the control mechanism comprising a spiral counting means and a control finger which is guided in the spiral counting means, is known.2.2. According to the invention, the control finger is assigned securing means which hold the control finger back in an inner position in the winding-up direction of the sheetlike structure.2.3. Use for restraint devices in a vehicle interior.