The method and corresponding system for autonomous operation may include implementing a safe system controller for autonomous vehicles to receive a set of event data for an event encountered during operation of a vehicle from a status engine of the vehicle; analyze the received set of event data; determine a vehicle system state based on the analyzed set of event data; receive a set of automation operational parameters from an automation engine of the vehicle; receive a set of autonomy operational parameters from an autonomy engine of the vehicle; determine a response to the event from the set of automation operational parameters and the set of autonomy operational parameters based on the determined vehicle system state; and provide the determined response to the automation engine and the autonomy engine to adjust an operational parameter of the vehicle.