1. A method of triggering and implementing a deceleration of a vehicle to avoid a collision and/or to reduce the severity of impact with an object, wherein objects in the sensor detection range are detected (sensed) ( 1 ) and measured variables are determined for each detected object ( 2 ) using a device for adaptive cruise control of the vehicle; the objects detected are assigned ( 3 ) to various object classes on the basis of the determined, associated measured variables; a family (group) of movement trajectories for at least one object is predicted ( 4 ) on the basis of the assignment of the detected objects to the particular class; a collision risk is determined ( 5 ) on the basis of the predicted family of movement trajectories and the detected object classes; an injury risk is determined ( 5 ) on the basis of the predicted family of movement trajectories and the object classes detected; and the deceleration devices ( 19, 20 ) of the vehicle are activated ( 6, 7 ) in the event of a preselectable collision risk and/or a preselectable injury risk.