In general, techniques are described for maintaining occupant awareness in vehicles. A device configured to maintain occupant awareness in a vehicle comprising: a processor and a display may be configured to perform the techniques. The processor may determine a location at which an occupant is gazing, and generate, when the determined location indicates that the occupant is not focused on a direction in which the vehicle is traveling, one or more contextual images capable of assisting the occupant in maintaining awareness of a context in which the vehicle is currently operating. The display may present, based on the determined location, the one or more contextual images proximate to the determined position within the cabin of the vehicle to assist the occupant in assuming control of the vehicle when the vehicle is no longer able to autonomously control the operation of the vehicle.