Vehicle travel control method and travel control device

A travel control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a controller configured to detect a target trajectory along which a subject vehicle should travel and to control travel of the subject vehicle so that the subject vehicle is controlled to travel in an autonomous manner along the detected target trajectory,

• the controller being further configured to:
• provisionally set a forward gaze point distance from the subject vehicle to a forward gaze point at least in accordance with traveling lane information;
• estimate a traveling trajectory of the subject vehicle in which the subject vehicle coincides with the target trajectory at the forward gaze point if the subject vehicle travels the provisionally-set forward gaze point distance;
• detect a maximum value of a lateral displacement between the estimated traveling trajectory of the subject vehicle and the target trajectory during travel from a current position of the subject vehicle to the forward gaze point;
• and
• definitely set the forward gaze point distance when the maximum value of the lateral displacement is a predetermined value or less as an actual forward gaze point distance and then control the subject vehicle to travel in an autonomous manner on a basis of the definitely-set forward gaze point distance.