Vehicle user-communication system and method

A method of driving a vehicle comprises controlling the steering and the propulsion and/or braking of the vehicle while following a route segment 265 (i.e. autonomously) and, during the route segment, activating a user interface 270 at a frequency 260 based on specified conditions. The conditions include the elapsed duration of the route segment (i.e. time spent operating in autonomous mode, measured by timer 255), the age of the user 205, the time of day, and/or the route segment topology (e.g. the curvature 230 or slope/flatness 235 of the road along the route). The user interface may be an alert to maintain the attention of the driver which may be visual, such as a light or onscreen message; aural (sound); or haptic, such as vibration of the seat. The age of the driver may be determined by detecting an associated key fob (54, fig. 1). The method may also include receiving a route, or receiving a destination 210 and generating a route 215, and determining if the route is designated for autonomous vehicles 220, 245, 275. Also claimed are a controller for performing the method and a vehicle including the controller.