A device for adaptive distance and speed control in motor vehicles, comprising a sensor device for measuring the distance and relative speed of a target object located in front of the vehicle; a regulating device, which has a distance control function to regulate to a specific distance to the target object and outputs temporally changeable actuating variables (a.sub.m, a.sub.b) to actuating elements of the drive and/or brake system of the vehicle; and a torque dampener for limiting the temporal changes of the actuating variables, characterized by a dynamic device that detects sudden changes in the traffic situation detected by the sensor device and restricts the function of the torque dampener according to the situation while maintaining distance and speed control.