System and method for assigning a level of urgency to navigation cues

System and method for guiding a driver of a vehicle ( 20 ) from a starting point to a destination point using an assignment of levels of urgency of navigation cues. The system comprises a navigation unit ( 38 ), a controller ( 22 ) and a user interface ( 42 ). The navigation unit ( 38 ) is capable of selecting a route between the starting point and the destination point. The navigation unit ( 38 ) is further capable of generating a plurality of navigation cues to guide the driver along the selected route. The controller ( 22 ) is connected to the navigation unit ( 38 ) and receives navigation cues. The controller ( 22 ) has an urgency calculator ( 40 ) that is capable of assigning a level of urgency to the navigation cues. The controller ( 22 ) may also have a workload manager ( 60 ) that is capable of classifying an activity state of the driver as well as updating the level of urgency of the navigation cue. The user interface ( 42 ) presents the navigation cues based on the level of urgency of the navigation cues.