Method and system for controlling a driving distance

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling a driving distance between a host vehicle and a first vehicle driving in front of the host vehicle, the host vehicle driving at a driving speed and at the driving distance to the first vehicle. The host vehicle includes a system for controlling the driving distance and a fuel saving system, wherein the system for controlling the driving distance is adapted to retain the driving distance at not less than a preset minimum safety distance, and wherein the fuel saving system includes an automatic speed increasing function which in case of fulfillment of a set of conditions automatically increases the driving speed in order to utilize kinetic energy inherent in the host vehicle to save fuel. The method includes retrieving information that the set of conditions is fulfilled such that the activation of the automatic speed increasing function is enabled, generating an altered safety distance by altering the preset safety distance by an offset distance, and if the driving distance is less than the altered safety distance, adapting the driving speed until the altered safety distance is reached, whereafter activation of the automatic speed increasing function is allowable, and, upon the activation, resetting the preset minimum safety distance such that the offset distance is available during the activity of the speed increasing function.