JP2005011252A - Information providing device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing device for a vehicle for realizing a right turn collision prevention supporting service for preventing collision with an invisible vehicle based on information from an AHS base station or a front sensor. <P>SOLUTION: This information providing device for a vehicle is configured to receive opposite vehicle information from an infrastructure controller, and to provide the opposite vehicle information to a driver before the vehicle turns to the right at an intersection. In this case, the existence of an opposite vehicle invisible for the driver is recognized (10c, 10d), and when any invisible opposite vehicle exists, the existence of the invisible opposite vehicle is announced (10d, 10e). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is mounted on the vehicle side in a vehicle information providing apparatus, that is, an AHS (traveling assistance system: Advanced Cruise-Assist High Systems) that uses reception information by DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) arranged discretely. The present invention relates to a vehicle information providing apparatus that provides information to a driver for driving support, in particular, right-turn collision prevention support.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Automobile traffic has safety issues, such as about 1 million traffic accidents per year and about 9000 deaths. Road traffic is closely related to the state of automobiles and roads. To overcome this problem, a road-vehicle cooperative safe driving support system composed of both automobiles and roads is an effective solution. With recent remarkable developments in information and communication technology, a driving support system has been developed that acquires road information and vehicle information that change gradually and notifies the driver.
[0003]
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating various information infrastructures that support the driving of the current automobile 120. For example, the GPS 121 notifies the current position of the automobile 120 from the satellite by latitude / longitude. Information used for navigation display such as map information and event information is notified via the Internet 122. The DSRC 123 notifies road information, intersection information, poor visibility information, and the like. The automobile 120 also has a radar and a CCD camera for monitoring the front.
[0004]
One of the driving support systems is a driving support road system called AHS. Unlike VICS, which notifies general traffic information, AHS continuously obtains detailed road, person, and car information from sensors and cameras located at specific places requiring special attention such as intersections and curves. The target is a system that obtains information through discretely arranged short range communication (DSRC) and provides various services to the driver. AHS support services include front obstacle collision prevention, curve entry danger prevention, lane departure prevention, approaching / starting collision prevention, right turn collision prevention, pedestrian crossing pedestrian collision prevention, road surface information provision, front stop vehicle・ Providing information on low-speed vehicles.
[0005]
Among these support services, an example of a right-turn collision prevention support service is shown in FIG. When a right turn is instructed by navigation in a car that has approached an intersection, a screen 131 for instructing a right turn is displayed on the navigation screen, and a voice instruction is given "300m ahead, right direction" 131a. When you get close to the intersection, you will get information on the straight line in the lane you are facing. If the straight line is approaching the intersection, the screen 132 with straight line will be displayed. Is done. When you enter the intersection, you can get pedestrian information on the right pedestrian crossing. If the pedestrian is crossing, a screen 133 with a pedestrian is displayed, and a voice warning is given, “Pon, there is a pedestrian” 133a. .
[0006]
Patent Document 1 describes a configuration and an operation example of an AHS infrastructure system and an in-vehicle system that realizes a right-turn collision prevention support service combining such a collision prevention support between an oncoming straight vehicle and a pedestrian crossing pedestrian. Yes.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP2001-101595 (FIGS. 2 and 3)
[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]
However, in the right turn collision prevention support service, there is almost no right turn in the situation where there is nothing to block the front view as shown in FIG. 10, and the oncoming vehicle or the facility on the road becomes an obstacle to block the driver's view ( It is inevitable that blind spots will occur. The current right turn collision prevention support service does not consider obstacles that obstruct the driver's view during right turn operations at such intersections, so vehicles appear unexpectedly from the shadows of oncoming vehicles, or facilities on the road A car appears from the shadows of a motorway or a highway post, causing a right turn collision. In particular, when there is an oncoming vehicle hidden behind an obstacle in the oncoming lane on the side of the median strip, there is a high possibility of a collision accident.
[0008]
In view of such problems, the present invention provides a vehicle information providing apparatus that realizes a right-turn collision prevention support service capable of preventing a collision with a vehicle that cannot be visually recognized based on information from an AHS base station or a front sensor. .
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, the vehicle information providing device of the present invention is a vehicle information providing device that receives oncoming vehicle information from the infrastructure control device and provides oncoming vehicle information to the driver before the right turn at the intersection, It has a recognition means for recognizing the presence of an oncoming vehicle that the driver cannot see, and an informing means for notifying the presence of an oncoming vehicle that cannot be seen when there is an oncoming vehicle that cannot be seen.
[0010]
Here, the recognition means has means for detecting the presence of an obstacle that obstructs the oncoming vehicle. In addition, it further includes display means for displaying how the oncoming vehicles are arranged, and the informing means detects a driver's blind spot area generated by the obstacle and / or the obstacle when the presence of the obstacle is detected. A viewable area that is not obstructed by the display is superimposed on the display screen of the display means and displayed. In addition, it further includes display means for displaying how the oncoming vehicles are arranged, and the notification means, when recognizing the presence of an obstacle, displays the oncoming vehicle in the blind spot area due to the obstacle, and the presence of the obstacle Is not recognized, the display means is controlled to display an oncoming vehicle that reaches the intersection first. The informing means further includes means for giving a predetermined warning to the driver when there is an oncoming vehicle in the oncoming lane on the median strip side.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a vehicle information providing apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
<Configuration Example of Vehicle Information Providing Device of this Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an AHS including the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present embodiment.
[0013]
The inside of the broken line is the in-vehicle system that is the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 10 denotes an AHS in-vehicle CPU that controls the in-vehicle side of the AHS. Although not shown, the computer includes a memory and the like in addition to the processor. The AHS in-vehicle CPU 10 displays the oncoming vehicle information receiving unit 10a that receives oncoming vehicle information from the AHS base station as a processing unit executed in the present embodiment, and displays oncoming vehicle information near the intersection on the display device to the driver. From the oncoming vehicle information display unit 10b that informs, the driver position extraction unit 10c that extracts the position of the driver's eyes, external information (oncoming vehicle and obstacle information) from AHS, and information from the radar and camera of the own vehicle An obstacle detection unit 10d that detects an obstacle, and a warning notification unit 10e that issues a warning to the driver in a situation where a collision accident is particularly likely to occur due to the obstacle.
[0014]
11 is an intersection database (DB) storing the shape of the intersection, and 12 is a vehicle information database (DB) storing the shape of the vehicle. These DBs may be included in the in-vehicle system as shown in FIG. 1 or may be received from the outside. For example, the shape of the intersection is more detailed in the information from the AHS at each intersection than the general map information, and the vehicle information DB may be common information corresponding to the vehicle type, but the driver's viewpoint In order to extract, unique information stored corresponding to each vehicle is more desirable. Reference numeral 13 denotes a front detection sensor (laser radar) that detects an obstacle ahead of the vehicle, and represents a CCD camera or the like. Reference numeral 14 denotes a display device such as an LCD for navigation and display of oncoming vehicle information according to the present embodiment, and 15 denotes a speaker used to notify changes in the oncoming vehicle state such as overtaking in the present embodiment.
[0015]
Reference numeral 16 denotes a road-to-vehicle communication device that receives infrastructure information via the vehicle-mounted antenna 17, and 17 denotes a vehicle-mounted antenna, and an oncoming vehicle created by the AHS base station CPU 20 based on information from an infrastructure sensor 22 such as a road sensor or a camera Road information is received via the roadside antenna 21. Moreover, in order to confirm the position of the own vehicle, the information from GPS30 is also received.
[0016]
The above is an important component related to the present embodiment, but in FIG. 1, other information transmission, for example, VICS for traffic information notification, is omitted in order to avoid complexity.
[0017]
<Example of AHS information for right turn at intersection>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in the vicinity of an AHS intersection to which the present embodiment is applicable. The AHS shown in FIG. 2 is a system that supports the prevention of collision with an oncoming vehicle traveling on an oncoming road when the host vehicle turns right (including waiting for a right turn) at an intersection.
[0018]
In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, at the intersection of at least one lane road R1 where a traffic signal is installed and at least one lane road R2 intersecting this road R1, and in the vicinity of this intersection (for example, 30 m ) On the road side of the vehicle R1 on the road lane side of the host vehicle V1, and on the road side of the vehicle lane side of the other vehicle (opposite vehicle) V2 facing the road lane of the host vehicle V1 on the road R1. Vehicle detection sensor 22 and two roadside antennas 21 installed diagonally on both the road lane side (travel road side) and the opposite lane side (opposite road side) of host vehicle V1 on road R1 near the intersection. Is provided.
[0019]
Here, the road R1 includes a traveling road including a traveling lane on which the host vehicle V1 travels and an oncoming road including at least one lane (opposing lane) on which the oncoming vehicle V2 travels.
[0020]
The base point 23 is a base point detector mounted on the host vehicle V1 with unique identification information (hereinafter referred to as a base point ID) and a provision ID (described later) for identifying provision information associated with the base point ID. The vehicle V1 detects that the vehicle has passed the base point 23 by the base point detector, and acquires the base point ID and the provision ID from the base point 23 when the base point passes.
[0021]
The base point 23 is a reference position for measuring the travel distance of the host vehicle V1 from the base point 23 to the intersection. The travel distance from the base point 23 to the intersection is a reference for specifying the provision information receiving section A1 by the roadside antenna 21.
[0022]
The vehicle detection sensor 22 detects another vehicle (oncoming vehicle) V2 existing on the opposite road of the host vehicle V1 in the predetermined detection range B1 before the intersection from the vicinity of the intermediate point (point Z) in the intersection, and the predetermined detection range B1 The position information of the other vehicle V2, vehicle speed information, vehicle type information, and the like are detected and transmitted to the AHS base station CPU 20.
[0023]
Here, the point Z that is near the intermediate point in the intersection is the reference position (T = 0, L = 0) of the expected arrival time T to the intersection of the oncoming vehicle in the present embodiment.
[0024]
Similarly to the base point 23, the roadside antenna 21 has unique identification information (hereinafter referred to as a provision ID) and a base point ID associated with the provision ID, and is detected by the base point ID and the vehicle detection sensor 22 together with the provision ID. The information on the position information, vehicle speed information, vehicle type information, road shape (the state of the intersection and the surrounding gradient, the lane width, the number of lanes, etc.) is transmitted to the host vehicle V1 in the provision information receiving section A1. (provide.
[0025]
The information on the road shape is not obtained via the roadside antenna 21, but is obtained from, for example, a map information database that is mounted on the host vehicle V1 and is referred to when displaying a road map or guiding a route. May be.
[0026]
That is, in the provided information receiving section A1, the road-to-vehicle communication device 16 mounted on the host vehicle V1 receives the base point ID, provided ID, position information of the other vehicle V2, vehicle speed information, vehicle type information, road, Information on the shape (hereinafter collectively referred to as provided information) is received, and the AHS in-vehicle CPU 10 uses the display device 14 and / or the speaker 15 based on the received provided information to determine the vehicle V1. Control processing for information provision (information presentation) to passengers is performed. This information presentation includes output of a voice message or warning sound from the speaker 15 in addition to an image or character display using the display device 14.
[0027]
Moreover, in this embodiment, AHS base station CPU20 (roadside antenna 21) can provide said provision information for every lane which comprises the predetermined detection range B1 of the oncoming road where the other vehicle V2 drive | works, Furthermore, When there are a plurality of vehicles on the same lane within the predetermined detection range B1, the information related to the other vehicle V2 can be provided up to a predetermined number.
[0028]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the AHS base station CPU 20 (roadside antenna 21) can provide the lateral position of each other vehicle V2 on the same lane within the predetermined detection range B1 (for example, the distance from the road shoulder). It shall be possible.
[0029]
In the above system, contrary to the case shown in FIG. 2, the other vehicle V2 is also an information provided vehicle similar to the own vehicle V1, and the other vehicle V2 uses the information provided by the own vehicle V1 traveling on the oncoming road as roadside information. The signal is received from the antenna 21.
[0030]
The oncoming vehicle and road information from the AHS base station CPU 20 is continuously transmitted every 100 ms in the provided information receiving section A1 (in the intersection and 30 m before the intersection), but this information is required only for right-turn cars. Therefore, in general, the blinking instruction of the right turn signal is detected and the oncoming vehicle and road information reception start time is set. Further, the information service is terminated by the travel distance from the service start.
[0031]
In the oncoming vehicle and road information received by the right turn vehicle from AHS, the information used in the present embodiment includes the shape of the intersection, the position of the approaching vehicle (oncoming vehicle), the speed, the traveling lane, the passing vehicle (two-wheeled oncoming). Vehicle) position, speed, and driving lane information. The information update cycle is 100 ms, and the position information is in 1 m increments. Further, as a feature of AHS, the processing delay time is 0.3 ms, and the reception distance is within 1 km.
[0032]
As for the shape of the intersection, the intersection information database of the own vehicle or the intersection information sent as other communication information may be used, but from the purpose of this embodiment, the most detailed and accurate AHS It is desirable to use information.
[0033]
<Example of determining that the driver cannot visually recognize in this embodiment>
In the following, several examples in which the driver determines that visual recognition is not possible in the present embodiment are shown, but these determinations can be realized independently or in combination.
[0034]
(Unrecognizable judgment example 1): If the distance to the reflector is detected by the laser radar 13 in front of the vehicle detected by the own vehicle, the oncoming / intersecting vehicle is not visible. Judge that there is.
[0035]
(Non-visual recognition judgment example 2): Detection from driver viewpoint and intersection shape First, the viewpoint position of the driver is extracted.
[0036]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of extracting the viewpoint position of the driver according to the present embodiment.
[0037]
In FIG. 3, the coordinate origin is the installation position of the vehicle-mounted antenna 41 of the vehicle 40 and is a position determined by latitude / longitude by GPS. In this example, the handle position 42 is the viewpoint position of the driver.
[0038]
The angle between the traveling direction of the vehicle and the straight line when the handle position is viewed from the antenna installation position is defined as θ _h , with the clockwise direction being positive, and the distance from the antenna installation position to the handle is l _h . Assume that the vehicle position obtained from GPS data is north latitude: n _p , east longitude: e _p , and the traveling direction is θ _d clockwise from true north. From these values, the viewpoint position coordinates are obtained as north latitude: n _p + l _p cos (θ _d + θ _h ) and east longitude: e _p + l _p sin (θ _d + θ _h ).
[0039]
Next, the coordinates of the oncoming lane are calculated from the coordinates of the center of the intersection, the connecting angle of the oncoming lane, linear information (different types of straight lines / curves / relaxation curves and their parameters: radius, clothoid parameter), number of lanes, and lane width. Or from the map DB. Furthermore, the coordinates of each oncoming vehicle are obtained from the distance from the intersection of the oncoming vehicle obtained by road-to-vehicle communication and the travel lane.
[0040]
Then, an invisible area is generated from the viewpoint coordinates and the obstacle coordinates, and it is determined whether or not the oncoming vehicle is invisible.
[0041]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an invisible region due to the obstacle 50 in the present embodiment.
[0042]
In FIG. 4, a straight line (n−n _e ) = {(n _0b −n _e ) / (e _ob −e _e ) connecting the obstacle seat 50a (e _0b , n _0b ) from the viewpoint coordinates (e _e , n _e ). )} From (e−e _e ), if the oncoming vehicle is located on the left side, it is determined that the oncoming vehicle is not visible.
[0043]
The left side means that the following conditions are met.
[0044]
When the obstacle is on the east side of the viewpoint position (e _0b > e _e ), the oncoming vehicle exists north of the straight line: (n−n _e ) ≧ {(n _0b −n _e ) / (e _ob −e _e )} (e- _ee ).
[0045]
When the obstacle is on the west side of the viewpoint position (e _0b <e _e ), the oncoming vehicle exists south of the straight line: (n−n _e ) ≦ {(n _0b −n _e ) / (e _ob −e _e )} (e- _ee ).
[0046]
When an obstacle exists in the true north of the viewpoint position (e _0b = e _e and n _0b > n _e ), the oncoming vehicle exists west of the viewpoint position: e _0b ≦ e _e .
[0047]
When an obstacle exists just south of the viewpoint position (e _0b = e _e and n _0b <n _e ), an oncoming vehicle exists east of the viewpoint position: e _0b ≧ e _e .
[0048]
However, when there is an oncoming vehicle between the viewpoint position and the obstacle position (e _0b ≧ e _0p ≧ e or e _0b ≦ e _0p ≦ e and n _0b ≧ n _0p ≧ n or n _0b ≦ n _0p ≦ n or ) Is excluded.
[0049]
(Unrecognizable judgment example 3): A vehicle that travels in the same lane as the oncoming vehicle A detected from the position of the oncoming vehicle or a lane on the outer side and whose distance from the intersection is longer than the oncoming vehicle A is not visible. to decide.
[0050]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the visual inability determination example 3. In FIG. 5, it is determined that vehicles 61a, 61b, and 61d that are traveling in the same lane as the oncoming vehicle 60a or a lane on the outer side with a longer distance from the intersection are not visible. Further, it is determined that the vehicles 61c and 61d that travel in the same lane as the oncoming vehicle 60b or on the outer lane and have a longer distance from the intersection are not visible. That is, the oncoming vehicles that cannot be visually recognized are determined to be 61a to 61d.
[0051]
<Example of notifying that there is no visual recognition in this embodiment>
(Non-Visible Notification Example 1): Superimposed Display of Unrecognizable Area FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of superimposing and displaying an unrecognizable area on the oncoming vehicle display.
[0052]
In FIG. 6 (a), when there is an obstacle 70 such as a facility on a separation zone or a post on an expressway, it is superimposed on the display of normal oncoming vehicles 72a and 72b, and based on the invisibility determination example 2 above. The calculated non-viewable area 71 is superimposed and displayed so as to be distinguishable from the visible area by diagonal lines, halftone dots, brightness / darkness, or color differences.
[0053]
In FIG. 6 (b), an area where the oncoming vehicles 73a, 73b, 75a to 75d are overlaid on the display of the normal oncoming vehicles 73a, 73b and obstructed by the oncoming vehicles 73a, 73b to be visually invisible (the oncoming vehicles to be seen). The rear and outer diagonal areas 74 are superimposed and displayed so as to be distinguishable from the visual recognition area by diagonal lines, halftone dots, brightness, color, or the like.
[0054]
(Non-viewable notification example 2): When it is determined that there is a non-viewable area in the warning oncoming lane of an oncoming non-viewable vehicle, the oncoming vehicle that reaches the intersection first is traveling in the median lane , Alarm sounds and voices, such as "Oncoming car" alarm.
[0055]
(Example 3 of non-viewable notification): Change in display of oncoming vehicle FIG. 7 shows an example of whether there is an oncoming vehicle by changing the display of the oncoming vehicle depending on whether there is an oncoming vehicle that is not visible. FIG.
[0056]
In FIG. 7A, since there are oncoming vehicles 81a to 81d that cannot be viewed, these oncoming vehicles 81a to 81d that are not visible are displayed. On the other hand, in FIG. 7B, since there is no oncoming vehicle that cannot be viewed, only the oncoming vehicle 80b that reaches the intersection first is displayed, and other oncoming vehicles including the oncoming vehicle 80a that are visible are not displayed.
[0057]
That is, when there is an oncoming vehicle that cannot be seen, information on multiple oncoming vehicles is displayed, but when all oncoming vehicles are visible, only the information on one oncoming vehicle that reaches the intersection earliest is displayed. By displaying, the driver is notified whether there is an oncoming vehicle that cannot be visually recognized.
[0058]
<Example of Operation Procedure of Vehicle Information Providing Device of Present Embodiment>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The flow chart of FIG. 8 is entered when, for example, the vehicle has entered the information transmission section b of FIG. 2 and is driving in the rightmost lane and instructing to blink the right blinker in the case of a one-way multiple lane. is there. In FIG. 8, only an oncoming vehicle will be described as an example, but the same applies to a passing vehicle (two-wheeled vehicle).
[0059]
First, in step S91, the viewpoint position coordinates are calculated based on the GPS data and the vehicle information. Next, in step S92, oncoming lane coordinates are calculated from AHS day, map DB, and the like. In step S93, the coordinates of the oncoming vehicle are calculated from the AHS data.
[0060]
In step S94, an oncoming vehicle that cannot be visually recognized is extracted from any of the above or a combination thereof. In step S95, it is determined whether there is an oncoming vehicle that cannot be viewed. If there is, the process proceeds to step S96, and information on the oncoming vehicle that cannot be viewed is provided by any of the above or a combination thereof. Then inform the driver. Next, in step S98, it is determined whether or not an oncoming vehicle is present in the lane on the separation zone side. If there is, an alarm “Oncoming vehicle” is issued in step S99.
[0061]
On the other hand, if there is no oncoming vehicle that cannot be visually recognized, only the first oncoming vehicle or the oncoming vehicle that reaches the intersection first is displayed in step S97.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a right-turn collision prevention support service capable of preventing a collision with an invisible vehicle based on information from an AHS base station and a front sensor.
[0063]
In addition, a vehicle that cannot be visually recognized can be extracted by detecting the presence of an obstacle that obstructs the visual observation of the oncoming vehicle.
[0064]
In addition, when displaying the oncoming vehicle arrangement on the display, if the presence of an obstacle is detected, the blind spot area of the driver generated by the obstacle and / or a viewable area not obstructed by the obstacle is displayed. By displaying it superimposed on the screen, it is possible to recognize the presence of an oncoming vehicle that cannot be visually recognized.
[0065]
In addition, when displaying the oncoming vehicle arrangement on the display, if the presence of an obstacle is recognized, the oncoming vehicle in the blind spot area due to the obstacle is displayed, and the presence of the obstacle is not recognized first. By controlling to display oncoming vehicles that reach the intersection, it is possible to recognize the presence of an oncoming vehicle that cannot be seen.
[0066]
In addition, a right-turn collision prevention support service that can prevent collision with a vehicle that is not visually recognized and has a high possibility of collision by giving a predetermined warning to the driver when there is an oncoming vehicle on the opposite lane on the median strip side. Realize.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an AHS including a vehicle information providing apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating AHS information related to a right turn near an intersection.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of calculating a driver's viewpoint position from a GPS vehicle position;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an invisible region is calculated from a driver's viewpoint position and an obstacle position.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating an invisible region based on the position of an oncoming vehicle.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an invisible region according to the present embodiment is displayed in a superimposed manner.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of notifying the presence of an oncoming vehicle that cannot be visually recognized according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating various information infrastructures that support driving of a current automobile 120;
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example of a right-turn collision prevention support service.

Claims (5)

A vehicle information providing device that receives oncoming vehicle information from the infrastructure control device and provides oncoming vehicle information to the driver before the right turn at the intersection,
A recognition means for recognizing the presence of an oncoming vehicle that the driver cannot see,
An in-vehicle information providing apparatus comprising: an informing means for informing the presence of an oncoming vehicle that cannot be seen when there is an oncoming vehicle that cannot be seen. 2. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recognizing means includes means for detecting the presence of an obstacle that obstructs the oncoming vehicle. It further has a display means for displaying how the oncoming vehicles are arranged,
When the presence of an obstacle is detected, the notification means superimposes a blind spot area of the driver generated by the obstacle and / or a viewable area not disturbed by the obstacle on the display screen of the display means. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle information providing apparatus is displayed. It further has a display means for displaying how the oncoming vehicles are arranged,
The notification means displays an oncoming vehicle in the blind spot area due to the obstacle when the presence of the obstacle is recognized, and displays an oncoming vehicle that reaches the intersection first when the presence of the obstacle is not recognized. 3. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display means is controlled to do so. 2. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit further includes a unit that gives a predetermined warning to the driver when an oncoming vehicle is in the oncoming lane on the center separation band side.

Images