The invention discloses a control method and a controller which are applied to a center control device of a motor vehicle. The method comprises the following steps of receiving a target data packet sent by a signal lamp; analyzing the target data packet and acquiring a distance value from the motor vehicle to the signal lamp which is about to be passed by the motor vehicle and remaining time of allowable running of the signal lamp; based on the distance value and the remaining time, determining whether the motor vehicle can run the distance value in the remaining time and acquiring a determination result; and at least based on the determination result, triggering an instruction that the center control device executes a corresponding function. After the target data packet of the signal lamp is received, based on an analysis result of the data packet, whether the motor vehicle can pass through the signal lamp is determined, and further based on the determination result, the motor vehicle is controlled so that a condition that the motor vehicle runs the red light is avoided and dangerousness is reduced.