Patent ID: 8581745

Claim:
A method for detecting a second overtaking vehicle passing by a first vehicle in the dark, the first and second vehicles traveling in substantially the same direction, the method comprising: detecting at least a portion of a light cone that is emitted from the second vehicle, the portion moving at a lateral offset relative to the first vehicle and being positioned ahead of the first vehicle, with respect to a direction of travel of the first vehicle, using a camera that is mounted on the first vehicle; and assigning the relatively moving light cone to the second overtaking vehicle by an analyzer device; wherein: the camera detects the light cone in a lateral zone that is located ahead of the first vehicle outside of a traffic lane of the first vehicle; and after an increase in a light intensity, the analyzer device detects a decrease in the light intensity below a threshold value in an area of the lateral zone close to the first vehicle, and, in response thereto, issues a signal which indicates that the second vehicle is at least partially beside the first vehicle.