Switching apparatus for a control system for a vehicle, wherein the switching apparatus has the following features: at least one light guide for guiding a light signal, wherein on entering the switching apparatus the light signal has an input characteristic, and on exiting the switching apparatus it has an output characteristic; and an operator control element for applying an activation force to the switching apparatus, wherein the operator control element can be moved between a basic position, a first activation position and a second activation position on account of the activation force, wherein the operator control element has a setting device (132; 232; 432; 532; 632; 732A, 732B) for setting a characteristic of the light signal, wherein the setting device (132; 232; 432; 532; 632; 732A, 732B) is designed to set the output characteristic of the light signal to the a first value in the basic position of the operator control element, to set the output characteristic of the light signal to a second value in the first activation position, and to set the output characteristic of the light signal to a third value in the second activation position, wherein the first value, the second value and the third value are different from one another, characterized in that the switching apparatus has a continuous light guide as the at least one light guide and at least one spring device for applying a spring force, counter to the activation force, to the operator control element, wherein the spring device is designed to regulate a multi-stage movement of the operator control element between the basic position, the first activation position and the second activation position, wherein the setting device has at least one pressure section which is designed to change a curvature radius of the at least one light guide depending on a position of the operator control element, wherein the light guide is arranged between the at least one pressure section and the spring device. at least one light guide for guiding a light signal, wherein on entering the switching apparatus the light signal has an input characteristic, and on exiting the switching apparatus it has an output characteristic; and an operator control element for applying an activation force to the switching apparatus, wherein the operator control element can be moved between a basic position, a first activation position and a second activation position on account of the activation force, wherein the operator control element has a setting device (132; 232; 432; 532; 632; 732A, 732B) for setting a characteristic of the light signal, wherein the setting device (132; 232; 432; 532; 632; 732A, 732B) is designed to set the output characteristic of the light signal to the a first value in the basic position of the operator control element, to set the output characteristic of the light signal to a second value in the first activation position, and to set the output characteristic of the light signal to a third value in the second activation position, wherein the first value, the second value and the third value are different from one another, characterized in that the switching apparatus has a continuous light guide as the at least one light guide and at least one spring device for applying a spring force, counter to the activation force, to the operator control element, wherein the spring device is designed to regulate a multi-stage movement of the operator control element between the basic position, the first activation position and the second activation position, wherein the setting device has at least one pressure section which is designed to change a curvature radius of the at least one light guide depending on a position of the operator control element, wherein the light guide is arranged between the at least one pressure section and the spring device.