The invention relates to a method for detecting the attention level of a vehicle operator, wherein a steering performance of the vehicle operator is monitored, as well as to a device (30) for detecting the attention level of a vehicle operator, with at least one sensor device detecting the steering performance of the vehicle and with a signal measurement and evaluation unit (32).According to the method of the invention, a phase relationship between a change of a steering angle (.beta.) of at least one steerable wheel (22) of the vehicle and a change of the steering wheel angle (.alpha.) is evaluated. With the device of the invention, at least one signal (48) corresponding to the attention level can be generated, with the signal depending on a phase relationship between a steering angle (.beta.) of at least one steerable wheel (22) of the vehicle and a steering wheel angle (.alpha.).