Patent ID: 8666646

Claim:
A vehicle guidance device, comprising: an inter-vehicle distance specification unit that specifies an inter-vehicle distance, which is an inter-vehicle distance in a prescribed lane, between vehicles up to a reference point of a lane change; a tolerable inter-vehicle distance specification unit that specifies a tolerable inter-vehicle distance, which is an inter-vehicle distance in the prescribed lane, within which a lane change to the prescribed lane is tolerated; a recommended section specification unit that: sets a plurality of determination sections in the prescribed lane within a range up to the reference point, wherein the plurality of determination sections span from each of a plurality of points set at different positions within a range from the reference point to a point therebehind in the lane direction of travel to each of a plurality of points at a determination distance therebehind in the lane direction of travel; specifies, among the set determination sections, a determination section in which, the specified inter-vehicle distance between vehicles in the determination section is equal to or greater than the specified tolerable inter-vehicle distance as a recommended section in which a lane change to the prescribed lane should be made before reaching the reference point; and specifies a distant point from the reference point among the points of the specified recommended section as a guidance point at which guidance pertaining to the lane change should be performed; and an output unit that, based on the specified recommended section, outputs guidance information pertaining to the lane change to the prescribed lane.