Patent ID: 7617037

Claim:
A system for automatic following-distance control of a motor vehicle, the system having at least one sensor configured to monitor the space in front of the motor vehicle(E), an electronic device for regulating travel, braking and steering, and at least one lateral sensor configured to monitor ( 8 ; 10 ) a lateral space ( 12 ; 14 ) in an adjacent lane beside and/or behind the motor vehicle (E), the motor vehicle (E) following a vehicle (A) traveling ahead, wherein if the vehicle (A) performs a lane change, the motor vehicle (E) will follow the lane change only if it is continuously determined in a predetermined fashion, on the basis of signals of the lateral sensor ( 8 ; 10 ), that, during the following-distance control, the motor vehicle (E) will in future not undershoot a safe distance from a vehicle (B) which is sensed, in the lane being changed to, by the lateral sensor.