A method for adaptive cruise control of a host vehicle, which host vehicle comprises at least one acceleration device, at least one retardation device, a control unit for acting upon the acceleration device and the retardation device, a calculating unit for determining at least one parameter related to a lead vehicle, and a distance sensor for determining a distance to the lead vehicle wherein the method comprises the steps of: - setting a first predetermined time distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle in the control unit, and - maintaining the first predetermined time distance by acting upon the acceleration device and the retardation device by means of the control unit, characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of: - evaluating, in the calculating unit, a parameter that characterizes velocity changes of the lead vehicle while maintaining the first predetermined time distance in order to optimize a time distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle, - changing the first predetermined time distance to a second predetermined time distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle in the control unit if the parameter that characterizes velocity changes reaches a threshold value, comprising increasing a time distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle in the control unit if the parameter that characterizes velocity changes is above a first threshold value, so that the second predetermined time distance is longer than the first predetermined time distance, and - maintaining the second predetermined time distance by acting upon the acceleration device and the retardation device by means of the control unit, wherein the first and the second predetermined time distances respectively consist of a first time interval and a second time interval within which the host vehicle is considered to be maintaining said respective first and second predetermined time distances, and wherein the method comprises: - activating the retardation device by means of the control unit while maintaining the first predetermined time distance when a distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle has decreased to a predetermined portion of the first predetermined time distance, and - activating the retardation device by means of the control unit while maintaining the second predetermined time distance when a distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle has decreased to a predetermined portion of the second predetermined time distance, whereupon the control unit activates the retardation device to a lesser extent while maintaining said second predetermined time distance than while maintaining said first predetermined time distance. - setting a first predetermined time distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle in the control unit, and - maintaining the first predetermined time distance by acting upon the acceleration device and the retardation device by means of the control unit, - evaluating, in the calculating unit, a parameter that characterizes velocity changes of the lead vehicle while maintaining the first predetermined time distance in order to optimize a time distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle, - changing the first predetermined time distance to a second predetermined time distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle in the control unit if the parameter that characterizes velocity changes reaches a threshold value, comprising increasing a time distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle in the control unit if the parameter that characterizes velocity changes is above a first threshold value, so that the second predetermined time distance is longer than the first predetermined time distance, and - maintaining the second predetermined time distance by acting upon the acceleration device and the retardation device by means of the control unit, - activating the retardation device by means of the control unit while maintaining the first predetermined time distance when a distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle has decreased to a predetermined portion of the first predetermined time distance, and - activating the retardation device by means of the control unit while maintaining the second predetermined time distance when a distance between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle has decreased to a predetermined portion of the second predetermined time distance,