Method for controlling a windscreen wiper device

Optoelectronic sensors placed behind the windscreen monitoring a portion of the surface swept by the wiper blade provide signals indicating the intensity of any screen deposits. The individual sensor signals are recorded for a period shorter than that in which the wiper traverses the surface scanned by the sensor. The signals are then differentiated with time and, based on whether or not set thresholds are exceeded, the operation of the wiper is adjusted.