Abstract: A device for detecting and displaying the rear and/or side traffic of a motor vehicle is to be improved upon such that the driver can safely and quickly detect the present traffic situation by way of the overall image shown, in particular when the direction of travel is changed. This is accomplished in that the device for detecting and displaying the rear and/or side view of a motor vehicle (1) comprises a first apparatus (3) for producing images of the optically detected rear view (A), one or more further apparatuses (2) for producing images of the optical side view (B,C) of the motor vehicle (1), a display apparatus (6) adapted to display images or image sections of the first and/or the further apparatuses (2, 3) in partial areas (T1, T2), and a control apparatus (5) adapted to select the images or image sections and to assign them to the partial areas (T1, T2).