Automatically controlling the longitudinal dynamics of a vehicle includes ascertaining a state variable dependent on the state of at least one wheel brake, detecting overshoots and/or undershoots of a limiting value of the state variable, ascertaining information about a vehicle traveling ahead, setting at least one control of a feedback control system, and controlling the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle as a function of the at least one control parameter. A sensing device used to ascertain the state of the at least one wheel brake, another sensing device is used to ascertain information about the vehicle traveling ahead, and an evaluating, setting and controlling unit is used to evaluate the state of the at least one wheel brake and the information about the vehicle traveling ahead for setting the at least one control parameter and for controlling the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle as a function thereof.