A process for the automatic regulation of the distance between a vehicle to be regulated and another vehicle is employed in a vehicle which has a distance regulating device and a braking system which is actuable by the distance regulating device. When the distance regulating device emits a brake actuation signal to the braking system, a brake control device actuates the brakes thereby regulating the distance between the vehicle to be regulated and the other vehicle. Prior to emitting the brake actuation signal, the distance regulating device emits a braking readiness signal to the braking system thereby causing the braking system to assume a braking readiness state. The distance regulating device emits the braking readiness signal when it detects, based on the travel and road conditions surrounding the vehicle to be regulated, that braking will occur shortly. Once the braking system is in the braking readiness state, it takes less time than usual for the brakes to actuate after the distance regulating device emits a brake actuation signal.