Vehicle travel control method and vehicle travel control device

1. A travel control method for a vehicle performed by a controller including a processor, wherein the controller is configured to:

specify a pedestrian crosswalk through which a subject vehicle is expected to pass as a first pedestrian crosswalk;

specify another pedestrian crosswalk located within a predetermined distance from the first pedestrian crosswalk as a second pedestrian crosswalk;

perform an extension process of extending an area of at least one of the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk;

determine whether or not at least a part of the area of the first pedestrian crosswalk subjected to the extension process and at least a part of the area of the second pedestrian crosswalk subjected to the extension process overlap each other;

when a determination is made that at least a part of the area of the first pedestrian crosswalk subjected to the extension process and at least a part of the area of the second pedestrian crosswalk subjected to the extension process overlap each other, set an area including the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk as a detection area of a detector detecting an object around the subject vehicle;

detect a moving object in the detection area using the detector; and

control travel of the subject vehicle on a basis of a detection result of the detector.

2. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine whether or not the moving object can cross the second pedestrian crosswalk; and

when a determination is made that the moving object cannot cross the second pedestrian crosswalk, exclude the area of the second pedestrian crosswalk from the detection area.

3. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine whether or not the moving object can cross the second pedestrian crosswalk on a basis of at least one of a signal indication of a traffic signal for pedestrians at the second pedestrian crosswalk, presence or absence of an obstacle on the second pedestrian crosswalk, and presence or absence of another vehicle expected to pass through the second pedestrian crosswalk.

4. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

estimate the signal indication of the traffic signal for pedestrians at the second pedestrian crosswalk from a signal indication of a traffic signal for vehicles located before the second pedestrian crosswalk on a basis of a correspondence relationship between the signal indication of the traffic signal for pedestrians at the second pedestrian crosswalk and the signal indication of the traffic signal for vehicles located before the second pedestrian crosswalk.

5. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein when a median strip exists between the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk, the area of at least one of the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk is extended into the median strip.

6. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

extend the area of at least one of the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk to a position of a stop line.

7. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

extend the area of at least one of the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk into a sidewalk close to the at least one of the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk.

8. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein when a guardrail is installed at the sidewalk, a portion extended into the sidewalk is further extended in a width direction of the first pedestrian crosswalk to an end part position of the guardrail on the first pedestrian crosswalk side, wherein the portion extended into the sidewalk is included in the area of at least one of the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk.

9. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

calculate a moving distance in which the moving object moves until the subject vehicle reaches the first pedestrian crosswalk, on a basis of a moving speed of the moving object; and

further extend a portion extended into the sidewalk in a width direction of the first pedestrian crosswalk in accordance with the moving distance, the portion extended into the sidewalk being included in the area of at least one of the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk.

10. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein when a distance from the subject vehicle to the first pedestrian crosswalk is a predetermined distance or more, the area of at least one of the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk is more extended in a width direction of the first pedestrian crosswalk as compared with when the distance from the subject vehicle to the first pedestrian crosswalk is less than the predetermined distance.

11. The travel control method for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein when a determination is made that at least a part of the area of the first pedestrian crosswalk and at least a part of the area of the second pedestrian crosswalk do not overlap each other, only an area including the first pedestrian crosswalk is set as the detection area.

12. A travel control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a detector configured to detect an object around a subject vehicle; and

a controller including a processor configured to control travel of the subject vehicle on a basis of a detection result of the detector, the controller being further configured to:

specify a pedestrian crosswalk through which the subject vehicle is expected to pass as a first pedestrian crosswalk;

specify another pedestrian crosswalk located within a predetermined distance from the first pedestrian crosswalk as a second pedestrian crosswalk;

perform an extension process of extending an area of at least one of the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk;

determine whether or not at least a part of the area of the first pedestrian crosswalk subjected to the extension process and at least a part of the area of the second pedestrian crosswalk subjected to the extension process overlap each other;

when a determination is made that at least a part of the area of the first pedestrian crosswalk and at least a part of the area of the second pedestrian crosswalk overlap each other, set an area including the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk as a detection area of the detector; and

detect a moving object in the detection area.