VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD

In a vehicle control apparatus, an acquiring unit acquires detection information from a probe apparatus based on reflected waves thereof. A target object information detecting unit detects a position of a target object. A target object route estimating unit estimates a route of the target object. An own vehicle route estimating unit estimates a route of an own vehicle. A collision determining unit determines whether the own vehicle and the target object will collide. A vehicle control unit performs vehicle control of the own vehicle when the own vehicle and the target object are determined to collide. An area setting unit sets a non-operating area for vehicle control. The area setting unit sets, as the non-operating area, a predetermined area with reference to a position in which the target object is detected, in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to an advancing direction of the own vehicle.