A system for controlling a host vehicle, the system comprising: a) at least one controller (12; 330, 32, 34) being configured to: a1) adjust (61, 64, 66, 67-69) a speed of the host vehicle to maintain at least a predetermined following distance between the host vehicle and a front vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle using at least one forward-facing sensor (40, 40a); a2) receive data from at least one rearward-facing environment sensor mounted on the host vehicle, a3) determine, based on the data from the at least one rearward-facing environment sensor (40, 40b), whether a rear vehicle is traveling behind the host vehicle, a4) detect, based on the data from the at least one rearward-facing environment sensor a critical rear-collision risk, a5) reduce the predetermined following distance to a second minimum following distance when the critical rear-collision condition is detected, and a6) automatically increase the speed of the host vehicle to maintain the second minimum following distance between the host vehicle and the vehicle travelling ahead of the host vehicle when the critical rear-collision condition is detected. a) at least one controller (12; 330, 32, 34) being configured to: a1) adjust (61, 64, 66, 67-69) a speed of the host vehicle to maintain at least a predetermined following distance between the host vehicle and a front vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle using at least one forward-facing sensor (40, 40a); a2) receive data from at least one rearward-facing environment sensor mounted on the host vehicle, a3) determine, based on the data from the at least one rearward-facing environment sensor (40, 40b), whether a rear vehicle is traveling behind the host vehicle, a4) detect, based on the data from the at least one rearward-facing environment sensor a critical rear-collision risk, a5) reduce the predetermined following distance to a second minimum following distance when the critical rear-collision condition is detected, and a6) automatically increase the speed of the host vehicle to maintain the second minimum following distance between the host vehicle and the vehicle travelling ahead of the host vehicle when the critical rear-collision condition is detected. a1) adjust (61, 64, 66, 67-69) a speed of the host vehicle to maintain at least a predetermined following distance between the host vehicle and a front vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle using at least one forward-facing sensor (40, 40a); a2) receive data from at least one rearward-facing environment sensor mounted on the host vehicle, a3) determine, based on the data from the at least one rearward-facing environment sensor (40, 40b), whether a rear vehicle is traveling behind the host vehicle, a4) detect, based on the data from the at least one rearward-facing environment sensor a critical rear-collision risk, a5) reduce the predetermined following distance to a second minimum following distance when the critical rear-collision condition is detected, and a6) automatically increase the speed of the host vehicle to maintain the second minimum following distance between the host vehicle and the vehicle travelling ahead of the host vehicle when the critical rear-collision condition is detected.