Vehicle detection system and method for detecting a target vehicle in a detection area located behind a subject vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle detection system configured to judge whether a target vehicle, which has been detected to approach the subject vehicle from behind in a driving lane being used by the subject vehicle and being covered by the detection area is an alert object, to output a result of judgement to a warning which warns a driver of the subject vehicle that a target vehicle () is present in the driving lane behind the subject vehicle based on the judging the target vehicle to be an alert object, and to determine, on the basis of a change of a lateral overlap of the target vehicle in the detection area, an overlap change rate which is defined as a ratio of the change of the overlap to a specified time.