The invention relates to a method for actuating a traffic-adaptive assistance system in a host vehicle, using speed-related and/or distance-related variables of the vehicle and of a preceding vehicle, to control acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. If the actual time interval or the actual distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle is greater than a predefinable respective lower limiting value and smaller than a predefinable respective upper limiting value the assistance system is actuated without regard to an otherwise applicable target time or distance time interval.