Methods and apparatus are provided for generating turn instructions on a
turn-by-turn navigation system. The turn instructions can include a turn
icon as well as visual and audio prompts. A countdown bar is typically
embedded within the turn icon to provide upcoming turn information in
intuitive graphic form, in order to reduce driver distraction. The
turn-by-turn navigation system can generally be produced more
economically than a typical premium system having a full complement of
costly features, such as a color map display. Moreover, the turn-by-turn
navigation system can be configured with only those features deemed most
useful to a broad-based market segment, in order to further reduce
manufacturing costs.