PURPOSE: To apply the engine brake according to a driver's feeling of danger, by controlling a magnitude of the engine brake according to a return speed of an accelerator pedal when a throttle valve opening angle is returned to 0.

CONSTITUTION: When an engine brake indicating signal nb increasing according to a return speed of an accelerator pedal 1i is indicated, an engine 1 is operated within a predetermined time to at a point D on a line 51 of a throttle valve opening angle θ=0 which point D corresoponds to the engine brake indicating signal nb, thereby obtaining a large engine brake. After the predetermined time to is elapsed, the engine brake is decreased to a value corresponding to a minimum engine brake indicating signal ns. As a result, the engine brake is shifted from the point D to a point G on the line 51 of the throttle valve opening angle θ=0, thus continuing the engine brake at the point G. Accordingly, the engine brake may be applied effectively according to a driver's feeling of danger.