A creeping discharge element drive device configured to drive a creeping discharge element and connected to the creeping discharge element through a resonant reactor, comprising: a switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) configured to connect to the creeping discharge element; a current detector (18a,18b) configured to detect an alternating current flowing through the switching element (12c,12d); a zero-cross detection circuit (40a,40b) configured to detect a zero-cross point of the alternating current detected by the current detector (18a,18b); a storage configured to store a first threshold value of a resonant period for determining an abnormality of the creeping discharge element during test operation performed prior to regular operation and a second threshold value of the resonant period for determining an abnormality of the creeping discharge element during the regular operation; and a controller configured to drive the switching element (12a,12b, 12c, 12d) for the regular operation and the test operation, the controller being programmed to: drive the switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) to apply a test voltage to the creeping discharge element during the test operation and a regular voltage to the creeping discharge element to discharge during the regular operation, the test voltage being lower than the regular voltage applied to the creeping discharge element at a start of the regular operation; determine a resonant period of the alternating current based on the zero-cross point of the alternating current detected by the zero-cross detection circuit (40a,40b) during the test operation and the regular operation; restrict or stop the driving of the switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) when the resonant period exceeds the first threshold value during the test operation; and restrict or stop the driving of the switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) when the resonant period exceeds the second threshold value during the regular operation. a switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) configured to connect to the creeping discharge element; a current detector (18a,18b) configured to detect an alternating current flowing through the switching element (12c,12d); a zero-cross detection circuit (40a,40b) configured to detect a zero-cross point of the alternating current detected by the current detector (18a,18b); a storage configured to store a first threshold value of a resonant period for determining an abnormality of the creeping discharge element during test operation performed prior to regular operation and a second threshold value of the resonant period for determining an abnormality of the creeping discharge element during the regular operation; and a controller configured to drive the switching element (12a,12b, 12c, 12d) for the regular operation and the test operation, the controller being programmed to: drive the switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) to apply a test voltage to the creeping discharge element during the test operation and a regular voltage to the creeping discharge element to discharge during the regular operation, the test voltage being lower than the regular voltage applied to the creeping discharge element at a start of the regular operation; determine a resonant period of the alternating current based on the zero-cross point of the alternating current detected by the zero-cross detection circuit (40a,40b) during the test operation and the regular operation; restrict or stop the driving of the switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) when the resonant period exceeds the first threshold value during the test operation; and restrict or stop the driving of the switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) when the resonant period exceeds the second threshold value during the regular operation. drive the switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) to apply a test voltage to the creeping discharge element during the test operation and a regular voltage to the creeping discharge element to discharge during the regular operation, the test voltage being lower than the regular voltage applied to the creeping discharge element at a start of the regular operation; determine a resonant period of the alternating current based on the zero-cross point of the alternating current detected by the zero-cross detection circuit (40a,40b) during the test operation and the regular operation; restrict or stop the driving of the switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) when the resonant period exceeds the first threshold value during the test operation; and restrict or stop the driving of the switching element (12a,12b,12c,12d) when the resonant period exceeds the second threshold value during the regular operation.