Vehicle control device, method and computer program product

A vehicle control method comprising:

• detecting with an oncoming vehicle detection sensor an oncoming vehicle that approaches an own vehicle;
• and
• automatically applying brakes to the own vehicle to avoid a collision with the oncoming vehicle, detected by the oncoming vehicle detection sensor, under a condition that the own vehicle is at least partially in an opposite lane or a planned path of the own vehicle is at least partially in the opposite lane, the automatically applying brakes includes
• setting, between the own vehicle and the oncoming vehicle, a virtual area that moves with the oncoming vehicle and that extends toward the own vehicle using a rear end of the oncoming vehicle as a base point, wherein the virtual area advances towards the own vehicle as the oncoming vehicle advances, and extends in the advancing direction of the oncoming vehicle,
• setting a rear end of the virtual area at a position of the rear end of the oncoming vehicle, and
• automatically braking the own vehicle to avoid the own vehicle coming into contact with the virtual area to avoid the collision between the own vehicle and the oncoming vehicle.

A non-transitory computer readable storage including computer readable instructions that when executed by a controller cause the controller to execute a vehicle control method, the method comprising:

• detecting with an oncoming vehicle detection sensor an oncoming vehicle that approaches an own vehicle;
• and
• automatically applying brakes to the own vehicle to avoid a collision with the oncoming vehicle, detected by the oncoming vehicle detection sensor, under a condition that the own vehicle is at least partially in an opposite lane or a planned path of the own vehicle is at least partially in the opposite lane, the automatically applying brakes includes
• setting, between the own vehicle and the oncoming vehicle, a virtual area that moves with the oncoming vehicle and that extends toward the own vehicle using a rear end of the oncoming vehicle as a base point, wherein the virtual area advances towards the own vehicle as the oncoming vehicle advances, and extends in the advancing direction of the oncoming vehicle,
• setting a rear end of the virtual area at a position of the rear end of the oncoming vehicle, and
• automatically braking the own vehicle to avoid the own vehicle coming into contact with the virtual area to avoid the collision between the own vehicle and the oncoming vehicle.