Patent ID: 7893819

Claim:
A method for avoiding a collision in a lane change maneuver of a vehicle from an instantaneous lane to a target lane, the method comprising: detecting objects in a lateral rearward space of the vehicle; and taking measures are to influence the vehicle, wherein the measures, depending on their stage, involve at least one of warning a driver, intervening into a steering system of the vehicle, and influencing a safety device, and measures of a selected stage are initiated, with the stage being determined depending on at least one of a relative position of a detected object ( 4 ) with regard to the vehicle ( 1 ) and a relative speed between the vehicle ( 1 ) and the detected object ( 4 ) as well as depending on fulfillment of a lane change condition, and wherein a steering torque that is invariable in terms of direction is applied to a steering handle in order to return the vehicle ( 1 ) completely into the instantaneous lane or to keep it in the lane when, on account of a lane change to the target lane, the longitudinal distance between the vehicle ( 1 ) and the object ( 4 ) detected within the target lane would become shorter than a predetermined minimum distance, when a second lane change condition is satisfied, and when the danger potential exceeds a first threshold value.