In a safety and emergency driving control method and an associated arrangement for an internal combustion engine with self-ignition used to power a motor vehicle, various operating parameters of the engine are continuously monitored and respective signals indicative of gas pedal position, engine operating speed, brake actuation, and actual control rod displacement are generated and evaluated to determine simultaneous occurrence of a modified idling operation condition and of a predetermined minimum value of the actual control rod displacement signal. In response to such a simultaneous occurrence the engine control is switched over to another regulation branch which controls the control rod displacement in accordance with a minimum value characteristic line of the control rod displacement. Further peripheral devices are included for providing starting hysteresis and excess speed protection, and for supervising the operation of the control rod displacement sensor. A supervisory device associated with a main computer of the arrangement may also be used to achieve the switch-over independently ofexternal signals.