A method for assisting a driver in activating an automatic driving mode of a vehicle involves determining the conditions required for an autonomous driving mode and determining a condition not fulfilled in the current driving state which blocks an activation of the autonomous driving mode. An object in the vehicle environment that is in context with an unfulfilled condition is also determined. The object in context with the unfulfilled condition is identified in a representation of the vehicle environment or by projection onto a windscreen, such that a driving maneuver required for enabling an autonomous driving operation is conveyed.