Protection device for motor vehicle

Protection device for a motor vehicle with a flexible sheetlike structure (1) which is arranged on a winding shaft (4), which is mounted rotatably in a housing, in a manner such that it can be wound up and unwound between a wound-up inoperative position and at least one at least partially extended protection position, the winding shaft (4) being acted upon by torque in the winding-up direction by means of a winding spring arrangement (5), the winding-up force of which can be reduced by means of a control mechanism (6 to 9), the control mechanism (6 to 9) comprising a spiral counting means (9) and a control finger (7, 8), which is guided in the spiral counting means (9), is movable radially relative to a winding axis (W) of the winding shaft (4) and is pressed, at least in the unwinding direction, by spring force against a guide web (11, 12), which has a spiral-shaped profile, of the spiral counting means (9), characterized in that the control finger (7, 8) is assigned securing means (14, 15) which hold the control finger (7, 8) back in an inner position in the winding-up direction of the sheetlike structure (1).