1. A situation controller for a vehicle, the situation controller comprising: a processing device; an image monitor, coupled to the processing device, for monitoring images associated with one or more items within the vehicle; means for communicating a message relating to the one or more monitored items, wherein the content of the message is determined by the processing device based at least in part on the one or more monitored items; and a controller, coupled to the processing device, for controlling at least one function of the vehicle in response to the one or more monitored items.