Disagree: Some people just come completely unhinged at the slightest perceived slight.
Yeah but usually the entire incident unfolds because one of the two people doesn't want to back off, because thier ego is too big, or they think they're going to get a prize or some bullshit. I drive 30K a year and I see it on the road all the time...
Example:
Old fart/camper/fudd type is sitting in the left lane camping a few mph below the speed limit. Some guy with an audi* or whatever starts honking and flashing his lights. Instead of old fart guy just pulling into the middle lane to let him pass him, old fart guy starts brake checking the audi driver. Then 10 seconds later the audi driver does something stupid to get around the old fart, old fart guy senses this and tries to like block the guy, etc, so he doesn't "win" etc. Then the audi driver retaliates and does something stupid, etc, and things progressively get worse until an accident almost happens. Now they're both locked into a "tasmanian devil spinning retard conference" of epic proportions, both having been "wronged" by the other driver, both of them now too ****ing stupid to just LET IT GO. The audi guy is just plain agitated, the old fudd guy is pissed off and thinks he is "right" because "who is he to be breaking the speed limit" or some other mindless bullshit.
-Mike
*I'm not shitting on audi drivers here, you could replace this with BMW, or any other remotely performance car.