Driving Assistance System for the Automated Driving of a Vehicle

A driving assistance system for the automated driving of a vehicle includes: a driving assistance module which is configured for automated driving with a first degree of automation and for automated driving with a second degree of automation, the second degree of automation being higher than the first degree of automation; an output module which is configured to output a driver instruction when a specified driver action is absent for a first period of time during automated driving with the first degree of automation; and a user input module which is configured to receive a user input for switching from the first degree of automation to the second degree of automation. The output module is further configured to output the driver instruction when: (i) the driving assistance system determines that the specified driver action is absent for a second period of time which is shorter than the first period of time, (ii) the user input for switching from the first degree of automation to the second degree of automation is received, and (iii) switching from the first degree of automation to the second degree of automation is unsuccessful.