Vehicle control device including object detection, speed distribution area setting and avoidance control execution sections

1. A vehicle control device mounted in a vehicle, comprising:

an object detection section for detecting a connection path which is connected, at a position forward of the vehicle, to a traveling road on which the vehicle is traveling;

a speed distribution area setting section for setting a speed distribution area extending at least in a lateral spatial region with respect to an object located forward of the vehicle and defining a distribution of an allowable upper limit value of a vehicle speed of the vehicle, wherein the speed distribution area is set such that the allowable upper limit value becomes lower as a distance from the object becomes smaller; and

an avoidance control execution section for executing avoidance control of changing the vehicle speed and/or a steering direction of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle speed of the vehicle from exceeding the allowable upper limit value in the speed distribution area;

wherein the speed distribution area setting section is configured, upon detection of the connection path by the object detection section, to set the speed distribution area on an assumption that an object exists in a connection region between the detected connection path and the traveling road.

2. The vehicle control device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the speed distribution area setting section is configured, when it determines that at least a part of the connection region between the detected connection path and the traveling road is a blind area of the vehicle, to set the speed distribution area.

3. The vehicle control device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the blind area is formed by a sidewall delimiting the traveling road or the connection path.

4. The vehicle control device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the object detection section is configured to detect the connection path, based on map information and current vehicle position information, or based on image data taken by a vehicle-mounted camera.

5. The vehicle control device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the connection path is a side road connected to the traveling road, or a space defined between two structural objects arranged along the traveling road.

6. The vehicle control device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the two structural objects include two vehicles.

7. The vehicle control device as recited in claim 1 , wherein when the connection path is detected at a position on or adjacent to a pedestrian crossing extending across the traveling road, the speed distribution area is set such that, as compared to when the connection path is detected at a position which is not located on or adjacent to the pedestrian crossing, the allowable upper limit value of the speed distribution area becomes lower at a same lateral distance.