A method for recording a traffic situation when a vehicle drives past a recording device, the method includes reading in a first image which depicts the vehicle at a first point in time at a first position in an area surrounding the recording device and a second image which depicts the vehicle at a second point in time at a second position in the area surrounding the recording device. In addition, a step of sensing a speed of the vehicle at the first and/or second point in time and/or in a time interval between the first and/or second point in time is provided. Also provided is a step of storing the first image and the second image, the first and second points in time and/or a time period between the first and second points in time, as well as the speed of the vehicle as a traffic situation data set.