A vehicle control apparatus comprises various sensors sensitive to vehicle operating parameters for producing signals having values sensed for the respective vehicle operating parameters. The vehicle control apparatus also comprises a transition detector. The transition detector includes a memory for storing threshold values specified for the respective vehicle operating parameters, and a comparator for comparing the sensed values with the respective threshold values in a predetermined sequence to sense a transition in one of the vehicle operating parameters when the value sensed for the one vehicle operating parameter is in a range defined by the threshold value specified for the one vehicle operating parameter. The transition detector is coupled to a control unit for controlling the automotive vehicle for the sensed transition.