A motor vehicle has a passenger compartment for at least one vehicle user and has at least one sensor device for detecting a location of the vehicle user in the passenger compartment. At least one retaining device is used to fix the vehicle user in his/her location. A control device is provided to activate the at least one retaining device according to a signal of at least one impact sensor of the motor vehicle. The at least one retaining device is designed to fix the vehicle user in a location in the passenger compartment different from a vehicle seat of the motor vehicle. A method operates such a motor vehicle.