Control unit for a restraint system in a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a control device (10) for a restraint system in a motor vehicle, comprising a safety switch (5) and also a watchdog which acts as a safety switch in the control device. Said safety switch monitors sensor signals which are transmitted to the processor (4) of the control device according to plausibility. If the safety switch detects a problem, the corresponding restraint system (9) is set free for a predetermined time via a time unit (6). Additional information from the sensor signals is used by the safety switch to determine how the sensor signals are to be processed. The safety switch is formed in such a way that it releases the restraining means which are correspondingly associated with the senses (1, 2, 3). When said control device is actuated, the processor tests the safety switch by producing a test signal via the sensors.