a triggering base body which can be mounted on an elevator car,

a trigger,

a contact device, and

a coupling link via which the triggering unit can be connected to an elevator braking device, wherein the triggering unit is designed as an assembly which is completely separate from the elevator braking device and, in an intended mounted state, the triggering unit is connected to the elevator braking device exclusively via the coupling link,

wherein the contact device comprises a swivel lever and at least two contact elements, the swivel lever being pivotably anchored on one side of a guide rail, and the swivel lever, when the triggering unit is installed as intended, bearing a first contact element in a region between its anchoring and the guide rail, which first contact element forms a first contact region for contacting the guide rail, wherein the first contact element is spaced from the guide rail before being triggered and, when triggered, makes contact with the guide rail and the swivel lever projects past the rail as far as the other side of the rail and there carries at least one further, second contact element which forms a second contact region for making contact with the guide rail, wherein the first and the second contact elements are arranged on the swivel lever in such a manner that the swivel lever automatically pulls itself against the guide rail under the influence of the forces occurring between the contact elements and the guide rail in the triggered state, and the swivel lever is anchored to the triggering base body in such a way that, in the course of its pulling itself automatically against the guide rail, the swivel lever executes a movement which generates tension or pressure at the coupling link, so that the coupling link actuates the elevator braking device, wherein the first contact element is mounted in a slotted link which can be moved towards and away from the guide rail and which is designed and can be actuated in such a way that the slotted link holds the first contact element in a standby position on the swivel lever until triggering, in which position the first contact element is at a distance from the guide rail and, in the course of triggering, is displaced relative to the swivel lever in such a way that the first contact element is pressed against the guide rail.