Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle has at least one headlamp having a plurality of lighting elements which are individually controllable. A method of controlling the lighting device includes detecting an activated state of the at least one headlamp; detecting a body to be protected from glare; determining a glare suppression angular range based on an extent and position of the body; and determining at least one transition angular range between the glare suppression angular range and a fully illuminated angular range. The light intensity of the glare suppression angular range is set below a specified limit The light intensity of the transition angular range depends on a distance of a beam angle of the individual lighting elements from the glare suppression angular range, wherein the light intensity increases with increasing distance.