A method is provided for controlling a vehicle while operating under a cruise control so as to improve response to driver braking operation and shorten the free running distance by applying a preliminary braking force to a braking device when a preceding vehicle can no longer be recognized during preceding vehicle following control. Basically, the method includes: detecting a preceding vehicle and an inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle from a host vehicle equipped with the vehicle driving control device; executing a preceding vehicle following control to control the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle towards a target inter-vehicle distance when the preceding vehicle has been recognized; and generating a preliminary braking force upon determination that no preceding vehicle can be recognized during the preceding vehicle following control performed in which the preceding vehicle was previously detected.