Abstract: A method for controlling a distance between an ego-vehicle and a vehicle ahead, wherein the ego-vehicle is equipped with at least one braking system, a drive system and an adaptive cruise control system with an operating unit, the method including maintaining an entered minimum distance that is controlled by the adaptive cruise control system wherein when the ego-vehicle is at a standstill, a reduction of the entered minimum distance is made possible by user input by the operating unit. The method further includes releasing, after operating an operating element, a holding function of the braking system and increasing a drive torque of the drive system in order to cause the ego-vehicle to accelerate in a forward direction, continuously measuring a distance to a vehicle ahead, and when a predefined reduction distance or a predefined safety distance to the vehicle ahead is reached, canceling the increase in drive torque.