the first transition from an unilluminated area into illuminated area 16 viewed in travel direction 17 defines a first headlight beam boundary 18 the second transition from illuminated area 16 into an unilluminated area in the travel direction defines a second headlight beam boundary 20 in the following discussion the focus is on second headlight beam boundary 20 which is farthest from vehicle 10 viewed in the travel direction vehicle 10 also includes a video camera 22 video camera 22 is data linked to an evaluation and control unit 26 via a data line 24 evaluation and control unit 26 evaluates images of the surroundings of vehicle 10 which are recorded by video camera 22 a control signal is then provided via a control line 28 on the basis of this evaluation control line 28 connects evaluation and control unit 26 to headlight 12 headlight beam boundary 20 may then be shifted toward or away from vehicle 10 as a function of the control signal this takes place within the options made possible by the construction of headlight 12 the surroundings of vehicle 10 are only partially detected by camera 22 this takes place within a field of vision 30 determined by a camera optical system of video camera 22 due to the design of video camera 22 this results in an area 32 of roadway 11 which is detected by video camera 22 area 32 begins where field of vision 30 intersects roadway 11 viewed in travel direction 17 as is apparent from fig1 roadway 11 has topographic changes in travel direction 17 due to the topographic changes vehicle 10 undergoes pitching motions.