of the ignition is involved when the engine can be started again e g by operating a gas pedal the current vehicle speed is sensed in step 2 to ascertain whether the vehicle moves or stands if the detected vehicle speed is equal to zero it is ascertained in step 3 by means of the inclination sensor 16 whether the motor vehicle actually is in the state of standstill in general a motor vehicle performs dynamic movements in the driving mode characteristic of this mode accordingly it can be ascertained whether a motor vehicle is at a standstill or not when movements of the vehicle correspond to movements typical of the driving mode current inclinations of the motor vehicle to be more exact changes in the inclination about its transverse axis according to the embodiment of fig1 are detected by the inclination sensor 18 in case the sensed vehicle movements are within a range in which movements typical of the vehicle being driven may be it has to be assumed that the vehicle is not at a standstill in contrast it can be ascertain that the motor vehicle is at a standstill if the sensed vehicle movements are not within the range of the movements typical of the driving mode if in step 3 the absence of vehicle movements typical of driving u201c.