To provide a unit and a method for doze detection, capable of detecting a doze with accuracy even on the occurrence of a state that open/close of eyes is not detected, thereby enabling appropriate drive support control.

In a doze detection unit 10 including an open/close detection means 12a for detecting open/close of eyes, an eye close time measurement means 17a for measuring a continuous eye close time, and a warning means 16 for warning a driver when the continuous eye close time is longer than a predetermined time, the doze detection unit 10 further includes vehicle state detection means 13, 14 and 18 for detecting a vehicle state. The eye close time measurement means 17a measures the continuous eye close time after changing the open eye detection result to the closed eye, when an open eye is detected after the closed eye and a vehicle state quantity detected by the vehicle state detection means 13, 14, 18 satisfies predetermined conditions.

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