Vehicle control system

A vehicle control system equipped with a driving assistance control function for assisting driving of a vehicle, the vehicle control system comprising:

• one or more storage devices configured to store a most-recent selection result of a driver regarding whether to use the driving assistance control function;
• and
• one or more processors configured to
• in a case where the most-recent selection result is to use the driving assistance control function and an operation condition of the driving assistance control function is satisfied, operate the driving assistance control function, without inquiring of the driver whether to use the driving assistance control function,
• in a case where the most-recent selection result is not to use the driving assistance control function and the operation condition of the driving assistance control function is satisfied, not operate the driving assistance control function, without inquiring of the driver whether to use the driving assistance control function,
• determine that a particular condition is satisfied based on a first condition, a second condition, and a third condition, and
• delete the most-recent selection result from the one or more storage devices in a case where the particular condition is satisfied, wherein
• the driving assistance control function allows hands-off operation by the driver from a steering wheel of the vehicle, and automatically causes the vehicle to follow a preceding vehicle during traffic congestion,
• the first condition is that the hands-off operation continues for at least a first period in a case where the driving assistance control function is not operated and the operation condition of the driving assistance control function is satisfied,
• the second condition is that an actual traffic congestion duration exceeds, by at least a second period, a traffic congestion duration predicted at a time when the one or more processors decide not to activate the driving assistance control function, and
• the third condition is that the vehicle is continuously traveling on a road other than a limited-access highway for at least a third period.