Abstract: A driving and tensioning device for a flexible protective member such as a strip, curtain or skirt includes a rolling-up driving-shaft and an unrolling driving-shaft which are driven by electric motors provided with a brake activated in order not to brake any longer when one of these motors is under power. This driving and tensioning device furthermore includes a device for controlling the power supply to the motors so that a torque is generated by one of the motors withstanding the operation of the other motor, during the phase of either unrolling or rolling-up of the flexible protective member.