Apparatus and method for automatically starting and stopping an internal combustion engine

The switching device has a control device (24) for on-off switching of the internal combustion engine (1) in dependence on the detected operating parameters of the engine and/or the vehicle, with an auxiliary device (31) detecting the traffic situation ahead of the vehicle, for preventing unnecessary switching out of the engine and for allowing advance switching in of the engine. Also included are Independent claims for the following:- (a) a vehicle internal combustion engine with automatic on-off switching; (b) a method for automatic on-off switching of an vehicle engine