Abstract: A method and device for monitoring the consciousness of an aircraft pilot or operator of any other vehicle are described. The monitoring comprises the control of the steering deflections effected by the operator, the size and direction of which are indicated by a steering signal (DP) emitted from the steering control. For every new steering control deflection effected in the opposite direction to the one immediately preceding the time value (CPT) for the steering control deflection is calculated and this time value is compared with at least one predetermined time limit value (CPTW, CPTA). At an excessive signal amplitude considered to indicate an abnormal steering performance which may be caused by a lowered degree of consciousness a warning signal and/or an auto-steering mode is activated. The monitoring according to the invention may also cover abnormally large and rapid steering control deflections as conditions for the activation of the warning signal and the auto-steering mode.