1. A method for controlling a driving mode of a self-driving vehicle (SDV), the method comprising: detecting, by an SDV on-board computer within the SDV, that the SDV is currently being operated in manual mode by a human driver; detecting, by the SDV on-board computer, that a telecommunication device located within the SDV is receiving a telecommunication message; and in response to detecting that the telecommunication device within the SDV is receiving the telecommunication message, transferring, by the SDV on-board computer, control of the SDV to the SDV on-board computer in order to place the SDV in autonomous mode, wherein the SDV is in the autonomous mode when steering, braking, throttle control, and obstacle avoidance by the SDV are all controlled by the SDV on-board computer.