Operating assistance method for a working device, in which object boxes in relation to an object in a field of view of the working device at successive times or data characterizing such object boxes are obtained, from object boxes of a given object for images recorded in succession or in direct succession, an instantaneous scaling change or sizes, derived therefrom, of an object box in relation to the respective object and an instantaneous lateral position change of the object box in the image in relation to the respective object are determined, from the instantaneous scaling change or sizes derived therefrom and the instantaneous lateral position change in the image for an object box in relation to a respective object, an object box predicted in the future is determined, wherein an object box predicted in the future is determined at least for a last-captured image by iteratively determining and updating, over a plurality of time increments up to a prediction time span, values for the scaling of a respective object box, for the coordinates of a respective object box, for the translation of a respective object box and for the lateral width of a respective object box, the position of the predicted object box and/or the ratio of a lateral extent of the predicted object box to a lateral extent of a captured field of view and/or the recorded images or a section thereof are determined and assessed, and depending on the result of the assessment, (i) it is determined whether or not an object on which the predicted object box is based is critical with regard to a possible collision, and (ii) an operating state of the working device is controlled or regulated, wherein an object on which a predicted object box is based is determined as being critical with regard to a possible collision, in particular with a criticality with a value of 100%, if the proportion of the width of the predicted object box in relation to the width of the underlying image or of the specified section thereof exceeds a predetermined first threshold value. object boxes in relation to an object in a field of view of the working device at successive times or data characterizing such object boxes are obtained, from object boxes of a given object for images recorded in succession or in direct succession, an instantaneous scaling change or sizes, derived therefrom, of an object box in relation to the respective object and an instantaneous lateral position change of the object box in the image in relation to the respective object are determined, from the instantaneous scaling change or sizes derived therefrom and the instantaneous lateral position change in the image for an object box in relation to a respective object, an object box predicted in the future is determined, wherein an object box predicted in the future is determined at least for a last-captured image by iteratively determining and updating, over a plurality of time increments up to a prediction time span, values for the scaling of a respective object box, for the coordinates of a respective object box, for the translation of a respective object box and for the lateral width of a respective object box, the position of the predicted object box and/or the ratio of a lateral extent of the predicted object box to a lateral extent of a captured field of view and/or the recorded images or a section thereof are determined and assessed, and depending on the result of the assessment, (i) it is determined whether or not an object on which the predicted object box is based is critical with regard to a possible collision, and (ii) an operating state of the working device is controlled or regulated, wherein an object on which a predicted object box is based is determined as being critical with regard to a possible collision, in particular with a criticality with a value of 100%, if the proportion of the width of the predicted object box in relation to the width of the underlying image or of the specified section thereof exceeds a predetermined first threshold value.