Method for the longitudinal guidance of a vehicle in relation to a leading vehicle driving in front by using an electronic distance-keeping system, and distance- keeping system for a vehicle

A method for longitudinal guidance of a vehicle in relation to a leading vehicle driving in front by using an electronic distance-keeping system, the method comprising steps of:

• a) providing an evaluation system with at least one environmental parameter relating to an environment of the vehicle;
• b) providing the evaluation system with a target distance at which the vehicle is intended to follow the leading vehicle;
• c) providing the evaluation system with at least one of acceleration or braking information relating to the leading vehicle driving in front of the vehicle;
• d) using the evaluation system to assign the leading vehicle to one of at least two different, predefined driving behavior classes based on the environmental parameter and the at least one of acceleration or braking information;
• e) using the evaluation system to determine an at least temporarily permitted deviation from the provided target distance based on the assigned driving behavior class of the leading vehicle;
• and
• f) using the distance-keeping system to at least temporarily longitudinally guide the vehicle to follow the leading vehicle based on the target distance and the determined permitted deviation.