Vehicle control device, vehicle control method, and recording medium

A vehicle control method using an in-vehicle computer, comprising:

• recognizing a surrounding situation of a vehicle;
• controlling steering and a speed of the vehicle based on a recognition result of the surrounding situation;
• receiving a pickup request that is transmitted by a communication terminal used by an occupant, and allows the occupant to get into the vehicle and allows the vehicle to leave a parking lot;
• causing the vehicle to move from a parking area to a stopping area when the pickup request is received;
• causing the vehicle to leave the stopping area when a first time has passed after arrival at the stopping area;
• changing the first time based on a result determined based on the surrounding situation;
• when another vehicle arriving at the stopping area later than the vehicle waits in front of the stopping area in a motorcade, recognizing a length of the motorcade or a number of vehicles in the motorcade;
• and
• changing the first time based on the length of the motorcade or the number of vehicles in the motorcade.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording a vehicle control program causing an in-vehicle computer to:

• recognize a surrounding situation of a vehicle;
• control steering and a speed of the vehicle based on a recognition result of the surrounding situation;
• receive a pickup request that is transmitted by a communication terminal used by an occupant, and allows the occupant to get into the vehicle and allows the vehicle to leave a parking lot;
• cause the vehicle to move from a parking area to a stopping area when the pickup request is received;
• cause the vehicle to leave the stopping area when a first time has passed after arrival at the stopping area;
• change the first time based on a result determined based on the surrounding situation;
• when another vehicle arriving at the stopping area later than the vehicle waits in front of the stopping area in a motorcade, recognize a length of the motorcade or a number of vehicles in the motorcade, and
• change the first time based on the length of the motorcade or the number of vehicles in the motorcade.