Switching device for converting a differential input signal (S_DIFF_IN) into a ground-referenced output signal (S_OUT) using a control signal (S_EXT), wherein error states are detected, wherein the switching device is suitably designed such that detected error states lead to the deactivation of the ground-referenced output signal (S_OUT) and additionally are indicated on the control signal (S_EXT), characterized in that the switching device includes a differential stage and an output stage, wherein the differential stage generates a first ground-referenced signal as a function of the differential input signal (S_DIFF_IN), delayed by a first signal propagation time t1, wherein the output stage generates the ground-referenced output signal (S_OUT) as a function of the first ground-referenced signal, wherein the switching device includes a further differential stage, an evaluation stage and a bidirectional communications stage, wherein the further differential stage generates a second ground-referenced signal as a function of the differential input signal (S_DIFF_IN), delayed by a second signal propagation time t2, wherein the evaluation stage generates a third ground-referenced signal as a function of the first ground-referenced signal and the second ground-referenced signal while taking the first signal propagation time t1 and the second signal propagation time t2 into account, wherein the bidirectional communications stage is suitably designed such that it generates the control signal (S_EXT) - either as a function of the third signal - or as a function of the third signal and at least one opposite station, wherein the output stage is suitably designed such that it forwards the first ground-referenced signal to the ground-referenced output signal (S_OUT) additionally as a function of the third ground-referenced signal. wherein error states are detected, wherein the switching device is suitably designed such that detected error states lead to the deactivation of the ground-referenced output signal (S_OUT) and additionally are indicated on the control signal (S_EXT), characterized in that the switching device includes a differential stage and an output stage, wherein the differential stage generates a first ground-referenced signal as a function of the differential input signal (S_DIFF_IN), delayed by a first signal propagation time t1, wherein the output stage generates the ground-referenced output signal (S_OUT) as a function of the first ground-referenced signal, wherein the switching device includes a further differential stage, an evaluation stage and a bidirectional communications stage, wherein the further differential stage generates a second ground-referenced signal as a function of the differential input signal (S_DIFF_IN), delayed by a second signal propagation time t2, wherein the evaluation stage generates a third ground-referenced signal as a function of the first ground-referenced signal and the second ground-referenced signal while taking the first signal propagation time t1 and the second signal propagation time t2 into account, wherein the bidirectional communications stage is suitably designed such that it generates the control signal (S_EXT) - either as a function of the third signal - or as a function of the third signal and at least one opposite station, - either as a function of the third signal - or as a function of the third signal and at least one opposite station, wherein the output stage is suitably designed such that it forwards the first ground-referenced signal to the ground-referenced output signal (S_OUT) additionally as a function of the third ground-referenced signal.