Device for automatic switching of lighting systems, in particular for vehicles

The automatic switching device has at least one sensor element (14,16,18) for detecting IR radiation and an associated filter element (22,26,28,30), ensuring that only IR radiation is received by the sensor element. The signals (S1,S2,S3) from the sensor elements are fed to a control unit (32) with a switch element (34) for switching the automobile lights (36).