TRAVEL CONTROL DEVICE AND TRAVEL CONTROL METHOD

A travel control device (100) is provided which executes a first information acquisition function to acquire subject vehicle information including the position of a subject vehicle, a second information acquisition function to acquire lane marker information including positions of lane markers, a setting function to set control areas with reference to the lane markers, the control areas each having a predetermined width, and a control function to control a travel position of the subject vehicle (V1) so that the subject vehicle (V1) travels between a pair of control areas set at right and left of the subject vehicle (V1). The lane markers include a change-point lane marker that extends by a predetermined distance and includes a course change point at which the subject vehicle (V1) starts course change. The course change point is located ahead the subject vehicle (V1) in the travel direction. When the pair of control areas set with reference to the change-point lane marker comprises one of the pair at a course change side of the subject vehicle (V1) and the other of the pair, the ratio (WR/WT) of a width WR of the other to a width WT of the one is set larger than the ratio (WR/WT) of the widths of control areas set with reference to a lane marker other than the change-point lane marker. The lane marker other than the change-point lane marker exists within a region from the course change point (TP) to a point in front of the subject vehicle (V1).