Method and driver assistance system for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle

The method involves setting a limit of the running speed, when releasing the accelerator pedal by a driver assistance system (10), which is equal to or a predetermined amount greater than a measured running speed for a time point of the release of the accelerator pedal. The automatic control of the running speed of the vehicle occurs when traveling down the slope. The limitation of the speed is adjusted to the current vehicle speed by decreasing the running speed. An independent claim is included for a driver assistance system for a vehicle to automatically control the running speed vehicle.