A vehicle communications network with an electrical switch module for use in a motor vehicle, the switch module comprising: solid state output or relays a backplane assembly comprising a plurality of connections thereon and a switch sub-network; a sub-network controller in operative communication with the switch sub-network; and a plurality of electrical switches coupled to the plurality of connections on the backplane assembly so as to be in operative communication with the switch sub-network, each of the plurality of electrical switches including a microprocessor therein programmed to generate switch messages that include therein data regarding an address associated with the switch and a switch logic state; wherein the sub-network controller is programmed to: transmit switch queries onto the communications sub-network to each of a plurality of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of the plurality of electrical switches; receive switch messages responsive to the switch queries from switches at the switch addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted, with each of the received switch messages verifying the presence of a switch in the switch module and providing a switch state for the respective switch; and interpret the received switch messages to perform at least one of: transmitting the switch messages onto the vehicle communications network to which the switch module is in operative communication, for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages; and controlling operation of one or more of the solid state outputs or relays associated with the switches from which the switch messages are provided. solid state output or relays a backplane assembly comprising a plurality of connections thereon and a switch sub-network; a sub-network controller in operative communication with the switch sub-network; and a plurality of electrical switches coupled to the plurality of connections on the backplane assembly so as to be in operative communication with the switch sub-network, each of the plurality of electrical switches including a microprocessor therein programmed to generate switch messages that include therein data regarding an address associated with the switch and a switch logic state; wherein the sub-network controller is programmed to: transmit switch queries onto the communications sub-network to each of a plurality of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of the plurality of electrical switches; receive switch messages responsive to the switch queries from switches at the switch addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted, with each of the received switch messages verifying the presence of a switch in the switch module and providing a switch state for the respective switch; and interpret the received switch messages to perform at least one of: transmitting the switch messages onto the vehicle communications network to which the switch module is in operative communication, for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages; and controlling operation of one or more of the solid state outputs or relays associated with the switches from which the switch messages are provided. transmit switch queries onto the communications sub-network to each of a plurality of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of the plurality of electrical switches; receive switch messages responsive to the switch queries from switches at the switch addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted, with each of the received switch messages verifying the presence of a switch in the switch module and providing a switch state for the respective switch; and interpret the received switch messages to perform at least one of: transmitting the switch messages onto the vehicle communications network to which the switch module is in operative communication, for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages; and controlling operation of one or more of the solid state outputs or relays associated with the switches from which the switch messages are provided. transmitting the switch messages onto the vehicle communications network to which the switch module is in operative communication, for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages; and controlling operation of one or more of the solid state outputs or relays associated with the switches from which the switch messages are provided.