A method includes receiving a handwheel angle signal, generating a handwheel speed signal and a handwheel acceleration signal, and synchronizing the handwheel speed signal and the handwheel acceleration signal. The method also includes delaying the handwheel angle signal, calculating a sum of the delayed handwheel angle signal and a phase value, converting the sum of the delayed handwheel angle signal and the phase value to radians, determining an offset correction value by calculating a sine function value of the converted sum of the operator torque estimation signal and the phase value, calculating a product of the offset correction value and a calibratable value of an offset mass magnitude, adjusting the operator torque estimation signal by adding the product and the calibratable value of an offset mass magnitude, and determining whether hands of an operator of the vehicle are on the handwheel based on the adjusted operator torque estimation signal.