Method for qualitatively determining vehicle loading conditions in control of safety system

A control system for an automotive vehicle includes a controller 26 that determines whether or not a potential load change has occurred in a load change detector 59. The load change detector may be coupled to various sensors 41 to determine whether or not a change in load has occurred. If a change in load has occurred an adaptively determined roll condition parameter such as a roll acceleration coefficient, a roll rate parameter or a roll gradient may be reset. If a potential load change has not occurred, then a newly determined value for an adaptive roll condition may be included in a revised adaptive roll condition average. A safety device 44 may be controlled in response to the revised adaptive roll condition. The safety device may comprise a suspension controller 48 or brake controller 60.