1. A method for determining a driving state from a plurality of driving states sorted in accordance with the degree of danger thereof, the method comprising the steps of: allocating at least one test criterion for at least one driving parameter of a plurality of driving parameters to each of said driving states; detecting at least one of said driving parameters; and, based on said driving parameter, testing to determine if one of said driving states from said plurality of driving states is present by testing in a time sequence starting with the most dangerous of said driving states by evaluating the test criterion corresponding thereto.