A method includes obtaining information about a lead vehicle. The lead vehicle is traveling directly ahead of the host vehicle and the information includes velocity of the lead vehicle and a gap g between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle. Based on detecting a change in the velocity of the lead vehicle in the information, a corresponding desired acceleration is computed for the host vehicle using perceived acceleration of the lead vehicle to maintain the gap g within a specified range of gap values. The perceived acceleration of the lead vehicle is based on the change in the velocity indicated by the information. Based on a check of parameters involved in the computing the corresponding desired acceleration, a modified desired acceleration is computed for the host vehicle using a lag for the lead vehicle that results in an intended acceleration of the lead vehicle differing from the perceived acceleration.