Driving support device and driving support method

Abstract

In a driving support device for a vehicle, a collision prediction unit uses a determination plane defined by a lateral position axis indicating a position with respect to a vehicle in a lateral direction orthogonal to a vehicle traveling direction, and a prediction time period axis indicating a time-to-collision set in the vehicle traveling direction. Specifically, the collision prediction unit establishes a first collision prediction area as an area in the determination plane. The collision prediction unit determines whether an object is present in the first collision prediction area. Based on this determination, the collision prediction unit predicts a collision between the vehicle and the object. The width of the first collision prediction area along the lateral position axis is set based on the width of the vehicle. The lateral position of the first collision prediction area is set based on the speed of the object and the time-to-collision.