Device for improving the viewing conditions in a vehicle

The invention relates to a device for improving the viewing conditions in a vehicle, with an IR ray source (2) for illuminating the surroundings of the vehicle, with a camera sensitive to the infrared (3) for gripping at least a portion of illuminated environment, with a display unit (4) to represent the entered image data and a control unit (1) for controlling the device. In addition, the control unit (1) is provided with means to turn off or turn on the display unit based on the entered image data. The camera is preferably also sensitive in at least part of the range of visible light and means are provided to turn on or off the display unit (4) according to the brightness or contrast of the picked-up image data in the infrared and / or visible. In addition, there is provided an image processing unit (6) which is connected to the camera (3) and the control unit (1) and which is provided with means for evaluating the picked-up image data for deduce the state of the environment, including the route of the road, the road conditions, weather conditions or traffic density, such as the presence of traffic in the opposite direction, so that depending this operating the display unit is on or off.