TRAFFIC LIGHT DETECTION DEVICE AND TRAFFIC LIGHT DETECTION METHOD

A traffic light detecting device includes an image capturing unit (11) configured to capture an image in the travelling direction of a vehicle, and a traffic light detecting unit (12) configured to detect a traffic light from the image. The traffic light detecting unit (12) sets reference signals (L01 to L03) the number of which is a multiple of three, and phases of which are shifted each other by a time obtained by dividing a cycle of an alternating current power supplied to the traffic light by the multiple of three, and adjusts a phase of the reference signal (L01) which is closest to the phase of the alternating current power, to the phase of the alternating current power. The traffic light detecting unit (12) extracts from the image a synchronized pixel (53b) with a luminance which varies in synchronization with the reference signal (L01) having the phase adjusted to the phase of the alternating current power, and judges that a traffic light is present at a position of the synchronized pixel.