A method for preventing collisions with an object located in front of an own vehicle, with the following steps: - specifying an acceleration profile (a VOR,E) depending on driving variables of the own vehicle; - assuming a time progression of a foreseeable acceleration of the own vehicle (a VOR,E) based on the current acceleration (a AKT,E) of the own vehicle; - determining a path profile (s E) of the own vehicle from the time progression of the foreseeable acceleration (a VOR,E); - detecting a current distance (dist AKT,V) and a current relative velocity (vrel AKT,V) of an object in front of the own vehicle; - assuming a time progression of a foreseeable acceleration of the object in front (a VOR,V) based on a current acceleration (a AKT,V) of the object in front; - determining a path profile of the object (s V) from the time progression of the foreseeable acceleration (a VOR,V); - comparing the path profile (s E) of the own vehicle with the path profile (s V) of the object in front; and - if the two path profiles (s E, s V) intersect or the velocity of the own vehicle coincides with that of the object at least within a tolerance band, determining the probable collision time (T K) of the own vehicle with the object; - comparing a time (T Schwelle) with the determined probable collision time; and if the velocity of the own vehicle coincides with that of the object in front at least within a tolerance band, determining a residual distance (D rest) of the own vehicle from the object and a reduction in velocity (V rest) up to the time, and - if the velocity reduction falls below a value and the residual distance likewise falls below a value, initiating a driver-independent (emergency) braking. - specifying an acceleration profile (a VOR,E) depending on driving variables of the own vehicle; - assuming a time progression of a foreseeable acceleration of the own vehicle (a VOR,E) based on the current acceleration (a AKT,E) of the own vehicle; - determining a path profile (s E) of the own vehicle from the time progression of the foreseeable acceleration (a VOR,E); - detecting a current distance (dist AKT,V) and a current relative velocity (vrel AKT,V) of an object in front of the own vehicle; - assuming a time progression of a foreseeable acceleration of the object in front (a VOR,V) based on a current acceleration (a AKT,V) of the object in front; - determining a path profile of the object (s V) from the time progression of the foreseeable acceleration (a VOR,V); - comparing the path profile (s E) of the own vehicle with the path profile (s V) of the object in front; and - if the two path profiles (s E, s V) intersect or the velocity of the own vehicle coincides with that of the object at least within a tolerance band, determining the probable collision time (T K) of the own vehicle with the object; - comparing a time (T Schwelle) with the determined probable collision time; and if the velocity of the own vehicle coincides with that of the object in front at least within a tolerance band, determining a residual distance (D rest) of the own vehicle from the object and a reduction in velocity (V rest) up to the time, and - if the velocity reduction falls below a value and the residual distance likewise falls below a value, initiating a driver-independent (emergency) braking.