Driver assistance method and driver assistance system for snow-covered roads

The driver assistance method involves detecting the surroundings of a vehicle by an optical sensor and detecting a clearway (22), which is formed from the vehicles (38,39,40) running ahead from the tracks, from the detected data. A signal is delivered to the driver on leaving the clearway. The tire tracks (24,25,28,29) of vehicles running ahead are identified. A profile of a tire impression is identified in a tire track of a vehicle running ahead. A strip (26) limited by associated tire tracks of the vehicles running ahead is identified. An independent claim is included for a driver assistance system with a component for outputting a warning signal when leaving the clearway.