VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD

A control switching unit inquires of a remote control center via a communication unit as to presence or absence of another vehicle traveling within a predetermined range including a host vehicle and being switchable from remote driving control to follow-up driving control when a communication quality detected by a communication quality detecting unit becomes less than a predetermined communication quality during the control of the driving of the host vehicle by a remote driving control unit. The control switching unit causes the remote driving control unit to continuously control the driving of the host vehicle when there is a response indicating presence of the another vehicle, and causes a follow-up driving control unit to control the driving of the host vehicle when there is a response indicating absence of another vehicle.