The invention relates to a method for assisting the driver of a vehicle (10) when performing a driving maneuver, such as a parking or shunting maneuver. In this case, a reference trajectory (16) is determined, along which the vehicle (10) is to be moved. A steering wheel position to be set and controlling the vehicle along the reference trajectory (16) is indicated to the driver during the driving maneuver. The vehicle longitudinal speed is influenced independently of the driver in the event of a steering angle deviation between the actual steering angle actually set by the driver and the desired steering angle corresponding to the requested steering wheel position.As a result, the driver can be given a greater reaction time in order to set the indicated steering wheel position.