Patent attributes
Provided are a travel control device that enhance safety while enabling smooth overtaking of a vehicle from tracking travel. This travel control device is equipped with a direction indication determination unit, a travel control unit that performs control to switch travel of the vehicle between tracking travel whereby the vehicle is made to travel by tracking the preceding vehicle and propulsion travel whereby the vehicle is made to travel so as to match the speed of the vehicle to a target speed, and an inter-vehicle distance detection unit that detects the inter-vehicle distance in tracking travel between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle. In cases in which, during tracking travel, it is determined that direction indication of vehicle has been activated and the inter-vehicle distance exceeds a prescribed distance, the travel control unit switches travel of the vehicle from tracking travel to propulsion travel.
