A method and apparatus for detecting an object on a road around a vehicle. The method includes referring to three-dimensional geographical data, calculating a distance D.sub.A to a detecting object BLD in a 360 degree range, defining an area for the detecting target by the distance D.sub.A, measuring a distance D.sub.B to the object BLD and an object OBL in the 360 degree range when the vehicle travels, determining that the object is present on a road around the vehicle when D.sub.B