In a method for monitoring the condition of a vehicle driver, the markings (3) of the lane in which the vehicle is moving are detected and a direction of travel which the vehicle has to follow in order to stay in the lane is determined. In this case, the vehicle driver is assisted in staying in the lane by the steering wheel being automatically centered. If the vehicle exactly follows the determined direction of travel over a certain period of time, this is a sign that the vehicle driver is not actively steering the vehicle, and a warning signal is generated.