Patent ID: 7480562

Claim:
A method for operating a vehicle, which moves on a predefined route at a current traveling velocity, the method comprising: determining a value of a current traveling velocity; precalculating a characteristic value of the vehicle movement along the predefined route as a function of the determined value of the current traveling velocity and the predefined route, wherein, for a particular predefined route, the characteristic value varies depending on the determined value of the current traveling velocity; and activating a vehicle function as a function of the characteristic value; wherein the vehicle function includes at least one of: a safety function; an occupant protection function including one of a precharging of a brake system and a conditioning of at least one restraint system; a driver-information function including providing of feedback regarding a forthcoming critical curve, the feedback being implemented in a haptic manner and at an accelerator pedal; and a vehicle operation function including one of optimizing fuel consumption and optimizing exhaust gas.