System and method for processing safety signals in an autonomous vehicle

A vehicle, comprising:

• a drive control capable of receiving manual inputs from an operator input device to operate the vehicle in a manual mode;
• a controller connected to each of a plurality of actuators, and capable of responding to a disassociated actuator to generate a first safety signal;
• the plurality of actuators mated to the drive control, each actuator mated to the drive control by a mechanical linkage that disassociates and reassociates the actuator and drive control, each actuator generating a second safety signal in response to the disassociated actuator;
• a network that connects the controller to each of the plurality of actuators, and that is able to transmit the first safety signal originating at the controller to each of the plurality of actuators;
• and
• a circuit, separate from the network, sequentially interconnecting each of the plurality of actuators, the circuit being able to transmit the second safety signal to each of the plurality of actuators.