Lighting device for motor vehicles

The motor vehicle has an illumination device for illuminating an outer surface of a motor vehicle, and an ignition device (11) is provided for starting and switching off of the motor vehicle. The illumination device is supplied with a power supply, where a control unit (13) is provided and designed, such that the interruption of the power supply of the illumination device is initiated on activating the ignition device. A speed measuring device (12) is provided for outputting a measurement signal to the control unit, where the measurement signal indicates the vehicle movement.