Method and device for determining the load on a vehicle occupant

A method and occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle, in which the webbing movement of a seat belt wound on a belt reel (1) caused by the strapped-in vehicle occupant is scanned and corresponding measurement data are fed to an evaluating device (3), wherein measurement data relating to the rotating movement of a rotor (2), in particular the electric motor rotor, which serves in tightening the seat belt webbing, may additionally be fed to this evaluating device 3.