A method for operating externally visible lighting of a motorized transportation vehicle and a motorized transportation vehicle configured to operate externally visible lighting, wherein a number of luminous regions are varied sequentially producing a light effect image varying continuously relative to the motorized transportation vehicle in a longitudinal direction, the sequential variation of the luminous regions generated when the motorized transportation vehicle is driving off so that the light effect image moves with at least one change boundary region relative to the motorized transportation vehicle in the opposite direction to the current direction of travel.