Method for Actuating a Vehicle Brake System of a Vehicle, and Towing Vehicle

A method for actuating a vehicle brake system of a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one towing vehicle and at least one trailer configured to be coupled to the towing vehicle, the towing vehicle having a trailer interface, wherein interface signals are transmittable via the trailer interface between the towing vehicle and at least one coupled trailer, the method comprising:

• reading at least one sensor signal from at least one vehicle sensor, wherein the vehicle sensor is configured to generate the sensor signal in dependence upon whether the at least one trailer is coupled or not;
• determining and providing a monitoring result by evaluating the sensor signal, wherein the monitoring result indicates whether or not the at least one trailer is coupled to the towing vehicle;
• wherein at least one of the sensor signal and the monitoring result is determined independently of the interface signals that at least one of act on the trailer interface and are transmitted via the trailer interface in a case of the at least one trailer being coupled;
• selecting a braking strategy in dependence upon at least one of the monitoring result and the sensor signal, wherein the braking strategy indicates how the vehicle brake system of the vehicle is actuated;
• and,
• actuating the vehicle brake system of the vehicle in dependence upon the selected braking strategy when there is a braking demand.