Monitoring device, storage medium storing computer program for monitoring, and monitoring method

A non-transitory storage medium storing a computer-readable computer program for monitoring which causes a processor to execute a process, the process comprising:

• determining whether a degree of preparedness of a driver to initiate manual control is a first degree in which manual control of a vehicle is possible, a second degree which is allowed while the vehicle is being operated by automatic control or a third degree which is not allowed while the vehicle is being operated by automatic control, based on posture information indicating a posture of the driver, acquired while the vehicle is being operated by automatic control;
• and
• providing a predetermined notification to increase the degree of preparedness of the driver to initiate manual control, via a notification unit, when it has been determined that the degree of preparedness to initiate manual control is the third degree.

A monitoring method carried out by a monitoring device, the method comprising:

• determining whether a degree of preparedness of a driver to initiate manual control is a first degree in which manual control of a vehicle is possible, a second degree which is allowed while the vehicle is being operated by automatic control or a third degree which is not allowed while the vehicle is being operated by automatic control, based on posture information indicating a posture of the driver, acquired while the vehicle is being operated by automatic control;
• and
• providing a predetermined notification to increase the degree of preparedness of the driver to initiate manual control, via a notification unit, when it has been determined that the degree of preparedness to initiate manual control is the third degree.