Method and driver assistance device for emitting a warning signal in a motor vehicle

The method involves warning a driver of a motor vehicle (1) by warning signal in a collision-near situation in which a collision between the vehicle and a vehicle-external object threatens to determine a distance of the object to the vehicle by a sensor device (3) i.e. ultrasonic sensor, of a driver assistance device (2). The signal is output after a fulfillment of a predetermined criterion with respect to the determined distance. A temporal characteristic of the distance is determined and characterized over a pre-determined time interval during examining the fulfillment of the criterion. An independent claim is also included for a driver assistance device for outputting a warning signal in a motor vehicle.