Methods for Detecting Vulnerable Road Users by Way of a Vehicle

A method for detecting vulnerable road users by using a vehicle includes ascertaining a current lane in which the vehicle is moving, a left-hand lane that is located to the left next to the current lane and/or a right-hand lane that is located to the right next to the current lane. The method also includes defining a virtual left-hand side lane that is located to the left next to the left-hand lane and/or a virtual right-hand side lane that is located to the right next to the right-hand lane, and comparing an ascertained position of a vulnerable road user with the virtual left-hand side lane and/or the virtual right-hand side lane. The method also includes tracking the ascertained position of the vulnerable road user when the comparison reveals that the position of the vulnerable road user is in the virtual left-hand side lane and/or in the virtual right-hand side lane.