Apparatus for protecting a vehicle occupant

An apparatus for protecting a vehicle occupant includes an impact-predicting means (23) for predicting an impact of a vehicle, a seat operating means (16) for operating, based on an output from the impact-predicting means (23), a predetermined operating mechanism (15) so as to control each portion of a seat (1) to a predetermined target position, a controlling means (11) for controlling operation of the seat operating means (16). A speed for operating the seat by the seat operating means is selectively set at a first operating speed, which is employed at an emergency condition at which a vehicle impact is predicted, and at a second operating speed, which is employed at a normal condition at which a vehicle impact is not predicted, and is lower than the first operating speed.