A traffic light detection device comprising: an image capture unit that is mounted on a vehicle and captures an image of surroundings; a vehicle location detection unit that detects a location of the vehicle; a map information unit that stores map information; a traffic light location estimation unit that estimates locations of traffic lights around the vehicle with reference to the location of the vehicle and the map information, and sets traffic light search areas (A11, A12) in which said traffic lights are estimated to be present; a traffic light detection unit that detects the traffic light ; characterized by an obstruction estimation unit that estimates whether an obstruction state where a view of the traffic lights is obstructed in said traffic light search areas (A11, A12) occurs, when the view of the traffic lights is estimated to be obstructed, the obstruction estimation unit estimates an obstruction time of the traffic lights , and estimates whether the obstruction state is continuous, when the obstruction time is longer than a threshold, wherein when the obstruction estimation unit estimates that the obstruction state is continuous, the traffic light location estimation unit selects a detection target area (A12) from the aforementioned set traffic light search areas (A11, A12), wherein when the obstruction time estimated for the detection target area (A41) is equal to or shorter than the threshold, the traffic light location estimation unit holds the detection target area (A41); and the traffic light detection unit detecting the traffic light by searching the detection target area (A41) on the image. an image capture unit that is mounted on a vehicle and captures an image of surroundings; a vehicle location detection unit that detects a location of the vehicle; a map information unit that stores map information; a traffic light location estimation unit that estimates locations of traffic lights around the vehicle with reference to the location of the vehicle and the map information, and sets traffic light search areas (A11, A12) in which said traffic lights are estimated to be present; estimates locations of traffic lights around the vehicle with reference to the location of the vehicle and the map information, and sets traffic light search areas (A11, A12) in which said traffic lights are estimated to be present; a traffic light detection unit that detects the traffic light ; characterized by an obstruction estimation unit that estimates whether an obstruction state where a view of the traffic lights is obstructed in said traffic light search areas (A11, A12) occurs, when the view of the traffic lights is estimated to be obstructed, the obstruction estimation unit estimates an obstruction time of the traffic lights , and estimates whether the obstruction state is continuous, when the obstruction time is longer than a threshold, wherein estimates whether an obstruction state where a view of the traffic lights is obstructed in said traffic light search areas (A11, A12) occurs, when the view of the traffic lights is estimated to be obstructed, the obstruction estimation unit estimates an obstruction time of the traffic lights , and estimates whether the obstruction state is continuous, when the obstruction time is longer than a threshold, wherein when the obstruction estimation unit estimates that the obstruction state is continuous, the traffic light location estimation unit selects a detection target area (A12) from the aforementioned set traffic light search areas (A11, A12), wherein when the obstruction time estimated for the detection target area (A41) is equal to or shorter than the threshold, the traffic light location estimation unit holds the detection target area (A41); and the traffic light detection unit detecting the traffic light by searching the detection target area (A41) on the image. <EOS>