An automotive adaptive cruise control system for a host motor vehicle configured to operate in at least two different operating modes comprising a first operating mode, in which a current speed of the host vehicle is controlled to maintain a cruise speed, and a second operating mode, in which the current speed of the host vehicle is controlled to maintain a cruise distance to a leading vehicle, wherein the system is configured to: detect approaching to a traffic light and determine a light signal emitted thereby, signal to the driver the presence of the detected traffic light and the determined light signal, if the traffic light emits a red or amber light signal, estimating a driver reaction time, determining a higher threshold distance and a lower threshold distance from the traffic light, and warning the driver of the host vehicle of the need to slow it down if, after the driver reaction time has elapsed: i) the host motor vehicle has not decreased its speed by more than a calibratable threshold, ii) the current speed of the host vehicle is higher than a minimum speed, iii) either the distance of the host vehicle from the traffic light is lower than the higher threshold distance and the light signal emitted by the traffic light is red, or the distance of the host vehicle from the traffic light is between the higher and lower threshold distances and the light signal emitted by the traffic light is amber, and iv) a service brake of the host vehicle is unoperated.