Motor vehicle flashing light and method for operating a turn signal lamp

The method involves arranging the light emitting diode (LED) groups (24 to 32) having multiple light emitting diodes (16) in a row (R). The primary LED group is switched-on from a switched-off state, and subsequently the other LED groups are successively switched-on until all the LED groups are switched-on. The LED groups are maintained in switched-on state for a predetermined time period and are finally switched-off. The time period from activation of the primary group until reaching the active state of all LED groups lie in the range of 100 milliseconds to 200 milliseconds. An independent claim is included for a motor vehicle direction indicator lamp with multiple light emitting diodes arranged in a row and and interconnected to form multiple light emitting diode groups, and a control unit adapted to switch the light emitting diode groups.