A system (18) for controlling a safety system (44) of an automotive vehicle (10) includes a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36), a vehicle speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a yaw rate sensor, and a controller (26). The controller (26) determines a reference pitch in response to the longitudinal acceleration signal and the vehicle speed signal and a reference roll angle in response to the yaw rate signal, the wheel speed signal and the lateral acceleration signal. The controller (26) determines a roll stability index and a pitch stability index. The controller (26) determines an adjusted pitch angle in response to the reference pitch angle and the pitch stability index and an adjusted roll angle in response to the reference roll angle and the roll stability index. The controller (26) controls the safety system (44) in response to the adjusted roll angle and the adjusted pitch angle.