I'd love to know the psychology behind people's increased aggressiveness and impatience while driving, at least from a professional.
My take on it:
1) The unnaturally high speed of the car causes some part of your brain to kick into higher speed, or at least attempt to do so.
2) Partially as a result of #1, and partially as a result of knowing that a car can get you to a destination in a relatively short time, you become impatient more easily.
3) This society views vehicular travel as some sort of right, and also as a rite of passage. Anyone questioning your ability or impeding your travel is in effect directly questioning your suitability as an adult, just as a male deer may physically challenge a rival's mating rights in a certain territory.
4) Communication barriers. You can't say much of anything to anyone else on the road, being limited only to various lights, and (usually rude) simple hand gestures. It's kind of like an Internet forum, except the trolls are piloting a multi-ton brick at high speed.
1) If you're consistently late getting to a certain place, leave sooner.
2) If you're likely going to be late, accept it. Drive dangerously, and a hospital may be your new, and involuntary, destination.
3) My own take, obviously, but I find the "rites of passage" of various cultures to be just another in a long long list of humanity's silly little rituals.