1. A method for controlling an operational mode of a self-driving vehicle (SDV), the method comprising: detecting, by one or more physical detectors, an erratically driven vehicle (EDV) that is being operated in an unsafe manner within a predetermined distance of an SDV, wherein the SDV is initially being operated in a nominal autonomous mode; and in response to the one or more physical detectors detecting the EDV, changing, by an operational mode device in the SDV, an operational mode of the SDV from the nominal autonomous mode to an evasive autonomous mode.