A number of traveling routes are determined by computations, using a route
processor and map information on the basis of current position
information and destination information. The rating of the current
traffic jam or the predicted traffic jam on each of the traveling routes
is recognized based on a traffic jam prediction table and a calendar
table obtained by statistically processing VICS data and past traffic
conditions in terms of temporal elements. The number of traveling routes
to which candidate traveling routes are narrowed is increased as the
traffic jam rating is raised. Thus, the number of candidate traveling
routes from which a user can select the actual traveling route is
increased as the traffic jam rating rises in order to accommodate a
situation where secondary traffic jams can take place on any candidate
traveling route, thereby providing the user with useful traveling route
information and appropriate guidance.