Illuminating structure (1) for vehicles with two or more partial illuminating surfaces (A1, A2, A3 and A4) arranged at an externally visible position of the vehicle, wherein the partial illuminating surfaces are assigned light sources (L1, L2, L3 and L4) which, controlled by a control device (2), can be changed in intensity or in intensity and color depending on the time, wherein the control device (2) is configured to - the individual light sources (L1, L2, L3 and L4) within predefined and definable upper and lower limits ( I min ( m → i ) , I max ( m → i ) ) for the overall intensity ( I ges ( hv → , t ) ) to control the lighting structure (1) with the partial lighting surfaces (A1, A2, A3 and A4), and - the individual light sources (L1, L2, L3 and L4) with regard to their intensity and / or color depending on the parameters supplied to them relating to the driving situation (v, E)v , GPS) within the specified, definable upper and lower limits for the overall brightness of all partial illuminated areas, characterized in that parameters relating to the driving situation are the vehicle speed and / or the ambient light and / or location coordinates and / or values from sensor means detecting the state of a driver.