Following vehicle approach notification device

A following vehicle approach notification device mounted on a host vehicle comprising:

• a detection device including
• a sonar configured to detect a distance between a following vehicle and the host vehicle to determine an approach of the following vehicle,
• a front camera configured to detect a lane on which the host vehicle is traveling and a traveling lane space that the host vehicle is able to enter, and
• an inner camera configured to detect a direction of a line-of-sight of a driver of the host vehicle;
• a notification device configured to notify the driver of the approach of the following vehicle;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• communicate with the detection device and the notification device via a network, and
• determine, based on the detected traveling lane space, whether the lane of the host vehicle is able to be changed from a fast lane to a slow lane when the approach of the following vehicle is detected by the detection device during traveling along the fast lane, wherein
• the notification device is further configured to:
• notify the driver of the approach of the following vehicle in a case where determination is made that the lane of the host vehicle is able to be changed from the fast lane to the slow lane, and
• stop notifying the driver of the approach of the following vehicle in a case where determination is made that the lane of the host vehicle is not able to be changed from the fast lane to the slow lane,
• the processor is further configured to:
• in a case where determination is made that the lane of the host vehicle is able to be changed from the fast lane to the slow lane when the approach of the following vehicle is detected by the detection device while the host vehicle is traveling in the fast lane,
• determine, based on the detected line-of-sight of the driver, whether the driver has recognized the approach of the following vehicle and the traveling lane space that the host vehicle is able to enter, and
• change a method of notifying the driver of the approach of the following vehicle in accordance with a determination result of whether the driver has recognized the approach of the following vehicle and the traveling lane space that the host vehicle is able to enter, and
• the notification device is further configured to provide a notification prompting the driver to change the lane of the host vehicle to the slow lane using at least one of a text display, a voice message, and a sound.