A method for operating a motor vehicle having an occupant protection system and comfort components, and - having at least one occupant detection means for recognizing the occupant situation, - having at least one surroundings detection means for recognizing the surrounding situation, and - having at least one driving state detection means for recognizing the driving state situation, wherein the occupant protection system is adapted depending on the identified situation, in particular the hazard situation, characterized in that a) one of several predefined external protection or hazard classes is derived from at least a portion of the signals of the surroundings detection means and driving state detection means, on the one hand, on the basis of predefined conditions, b) one of several predefined internal protection or hazard classes is derived from at least a portion of the signals of the occupant detection means and driving state detection means, on the other hand, on the basis of predefined conditions, c) the operation of the motor vehicle is adapted on the basis of the current internal protection or hazard class and the current external protection or hazard class such that a predefined overall measure of internal protection or hazard class and external protection or hazard class is complied with, d) a corresponding low internal protection class or higher hazard class is only permitted in the event of a high external protection class or a low hazard class, e) a corresponding lower external protection class or higher hazard class is permitted in the event of a high internal protection class or low hazard class. - having at least one occupant detection means for recognizing the occupant situation, - having at least one surroundings detection means for recognizing the surrounding situation, and - having at least one driving state detection means for recognizing the driving state situation, wherein the occupant protection system is adapted depending on the identified situation, in particular the hazard situation, characterized in that a) one of several predefined external protection or hazard classes is derived from at least a portion of the signals of the surroundings detection means and driving state detection means, on the one hand, on the basis of predefined conditions, b) one of several predefined internal protection or hazard classes is derived from at least a portion of the signals of the occupant detection means and driving state detection means, on the other hand, on the basis of predefined conditions, c) the operation of the motor vehicle is adapted on the basis of the current internal protection or hazard class and the current external protection or hazard class such that a predefined overall measure of internal protection or hazard class and external protection or hazard class is complied with, d) a corresponding low internal protection class or higher hazard class is only permitted in the event of a high external protection class or a low hazard class, e) a corresponding lower external protection class or higher hazard class is permitted in the event of a high internal protection class or low hazard class. a) one of several predefined external protection or hazard classes is derived from at least a portion of the signals of the surroundings detection means and driving state detection means, on the one hand, on the basis of predefined conditions, b) one of several predefined internal protection or hazard classes is derived from at least a portion of the signals of the occupant detection means and driving state detection means, on the other hand, on the basis of predefined conditions, c) the operation of the motor vehicle is adapted on the basis of the current internal protection or hazard class and the current external protection or hazard class such that a predefined overall measure of internal protection or hazard class and external protection or hazard class is complied with, d) a corresponding low internal protection class or higher hazard class is only permitted in the event of a high external protection class or a low hazard class, e) a corresponding lower external protection class or higher hazard class is permitted in the event of a high internal protection class or low hazard class.