Switching device with a switching element driven via a flexible shaft

A switching device includes a switching element movable from a first position into a second position, a drive unit producing a rotary movement, and a flexible shaft transmitting the rotary movement to the switching element. The shaft has rotatable input and output sections on input- and output-drive sides, respectively. During movement of the shaft, a first rotary angle is producible at the output section, which first rotary angle is less than a second rotary angle at the input section at the same time, such that a first rotary angle shift is produced. The input section is connected to a switching position detection element having a control means with a first region which corresponds to the first position of the switching element and is coupled to the detection element. An identical indication of the detection element can be achieved in case of different rotary angle shifts in the same electrical switching state.