1. A method of classifying an occupant of a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: processing a plurality of image frames to detect an occupant; categorizing the occupant into one of a plurality of static categories, each of the static categories including at least one class indicative of at least one of an occupant type and a position in the vehicle; and classifying the occupant into the at least one class, wherein the step of classifying includes determining a spatial confidence having a consistency over a predetermined period of time, and observing the consistency of the spatial confidence over the predetermined period of time to establish a temporal confidence.