Device for controlling a vehicle occupant restraint system

A device regulates or controls an occupant restraint system of a motor vehicle in dependence on a pulling force acting on a seat belt (21). The force is measured between a subassembly (28, 29; 20, 34) anchored to the vehicle structure and another subassembly (27, 30; 22, 33) that is movable opposite to the first subassembly. Force measurement signals are evaluated by an evaluating device (8) for the setting of at least one restraint function of a vehicle occupant restraint system during normal driving conditions, during a pre-crash condition or during a crash, in a computer-assisted manner.