A driving assistance apparatus includes a plurality of sensor devices and at least one electronic control unit. The electronic control unit estimates a linear path of a finite length extending in a traveling direction of a host vehicle as an expected path. The electronic control unit determines whether or not a target object that is an object having a possibility of crossing the expected path within a threshold time period is present, and determines whether or not a traffic situation estimated to hinder traveling of the target object occurs. The electronic control unit generates a driving assistance request signal when the electronic control unit determines that the target object is present and that the traffic situation does not occur, and forbids generation of the driving assistance request signal when the electronic control unit determines that the target object is present and that the traffic situation occurs.