A vehicle engine is controlled based on a distance between the vehicle and an object other than the vehicle. In at least one embodiment, a system for controlling an engine in a vehicle is provided. The system includes an environment sensor arrangement configured to sense a distance between the vehicle and an object other than the vehicle and an operating sensor arrangement configured to sense an operating state of the vehicle. The system also includes a control module configured to determine whether to start or stop the engine based on the distance and the operating state.