Driver monitoring device, storage medium storing computer program for driver monitoring, and driver monitoring method

A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program for driver monitoring, which causes a processor execute a process, the process comprising:

• acquiring number of passengers that are occupying a vehicle when the vehicle has begun to travel;
• determining whether or not a driver is sitting in a driving seat based on an image near the driving seat of the vehicle which has been taken by an imaging unit;
• and
• determining that the driver is not sitting in the driving seat if number of seated people, representing number of people that are sitting as detected by a seating sensor situated in each seat other than the driving seat of the vehicle, matches the number of passengers, or determining that the driver is sitting in the driving seat if the number of seated people is one less than the number of passengers, in cases where it has been determined that the driver is not sitting in the driving seat.

A driver monitoring method carried out by a driver monitoring device and the method comprising:

• acquiring number of passengers that are occupying a vehicle when the vehicle has begun to travel;
• determining whether or not a driver is sitting in a driving seat based on an image near the driving seat of the vehicle which has been taken by an imaging unit;
• and
• determining that the driver is not sitting in the driving seat if number of seated people, representing number of people that are sitting as detected by a seating sensor situated in each seat other than the driving seat of the vehicle, matches the number of passengers, or determining that the driver is sitting in the driving seat if the number of seated people is one less than the number of passengers, in cases where it has been determined that the driver is not sitting in the driving seat.