A method avoids a collision of a motor vehicle initially moving backwards or forwards, in particular leaving a parking place, with cross-traffic. The method detects whether there is a risk of collision with cross-traffic; determines a last possible braking intervention for ensuring avoidance of collision when there is a risk of collision with cross-traffic; and performs an automatic last possible initiation of a braking intervention for preventing the collision in the event of an identified risk of collision, if avoidance of the collision is ensured thereby.