A headlamp for vehicles, in which the laser beam of at least one laser light source (1) is directed via a beam deflection means (7) towards at least one light conversion means (8) in a scanning manner, which at least one light conversion means comprises a phosphor for converting light, and having a projection system (10) for projecting the light image (9) generated at the light conversion means onto the roadway (11), characterized in that at least one electro-optical modulator (4) is arranged in the beam path of the at least one laser light source (1), which at least one electro-optical modulator is controlled by a control unit (12) and lies before the light conversion means (8) in the beam path and affects the polarization of the light, wherein a polarization element (3, 5, 17) is arranged at least after the modulator in the beam path.