PURPOSE: To reduce the fatigue of a driver or obtain a sure response feeling, by obtaining a target electric current from the sum of an electric current adjusting quantity in accordance with a present vehicle speed and steering velocity, and of a reference electric current in accordance with the present vehicle speed, when assisting force, at the time of handle steering, is controlled based on a target electric current.

CONSTITUTION: A control unit 1 controls electrification to the solenoid 4 of a power steering unit 2 based on respective detected signals from a vehicle speed sensor 7 and or a phase steering angle sensor 8. For example, at the time of low speed travel, an electrification current to the solenoid 4 is increased, and an opening to the reaction force chamber 2-1 of a control valve 3 is narrowed to reduce oil pressure added to the chamber 201 from an oil pump 6 to decrease steering reaction force to be transmitted to a steering wheel. At this time, an electric current adjusting quantity, in accordance with a present vehicle speed and steering velocity, is determined from a 'steering velocity' - 'an electric current adjusting quantity' characteristic in accordance with a vehicle speed, also a reference electric current, in accordance with a present vehicle speed, is determined from 'a vehicle speed' - 'a reference electric current' characteristic, and also a target electric current is obtained from the sum of these reference electric currents and an electric current adjusting quantity.