An engine control device is provided, capable of restarting the engine when starting the vehicle rapidly and without giving any feeling of unease to the driver at the time of starting the vehicle by restarting the engine from the idle stop state. The engine control device comprises an engine stop determination device for determining the propriety of stopping the engine; an engine stop device for stopping the engine based on the determination of the engine stop determination device; an engine start determination device for determining the propriety of starting the engine; an engine starting device for starting the engine based on the determination of the engine start determination device; and a vehicle forward signal state detecting device for detecting the state of the traffic light directly ahead in the vehicle travelling direction; wherein said engine start determination device determines whether it is appropriate to start the engine based on the change of the traffic light state detected by said vehicle forward signal state detecting device, when the engine is stopped by the determination of said engine stop determination device while the vehicle stops during driving.