Vehicle driving mode safety system

A method for automatically regulating activation of one or more driving modes of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• detecting, by a steering wheel sensor, whether two hands of the driver are in contact with the steering wheel;
• receiving, by a driving mode button, an indication from a driver to activate a driving mode, the driving mode adjusting a traction control setting and a stability control setting;
• adjusting, by an electronic control unit (ECU), the traction control setting and the stability control setting when the driving mode button is engaged to activate the driving mode and when the steering wheel sensor detects that the two hands of the driver are in continuous contact with the steering wheel for a predetermined threshold time, indicating that the driver is prepared to operate the vehicle when the driving mode is activated;
• preventing, by the ECU, adjusting of the traction control setting and the stability control setting when the steering wheel sensor detects that fewer than two hands of the driver are in contact with the steering wheel;
• and
• providing, by the ECU, an alert when the activation of the driving mode is prevented.

A vehicle having one or more driving modes, the vehicle comprising:

• a steering wheel sensor configured to detect whether two hands of the driver are in contact with the steering wheel;
• a driving mode button configured to receive an indication from the driver to change driving mode from a current first driving mode to a desired second driving mode, the second driving mode adjusting a traction control setting and a stability control setting;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the driving mode button and the steering wheel sensor, and configured to:
• adjust the traction control setting and the stability control setting when the driving mode button receives the indication from the driver to change driving mode and when the sensor detects that the two hands of the driver are in continuous contact with the steering wheel for a predetermined threshold time, indicating that the driver is prepared to operate the vehicle when the driving mode is activated,
• prevent adjusting of the traction control setting and the stability control setting when the steering wheel sensor detects that fewer than two hands of the driver are in contact with the steering wheel, and
• provide an alert when the activation of the second driving mode is prevented.