Everybody is under a lot of pressure with tight schedules. People driving their children to school before trying to get to work themselves often find navigating British roads beset with angry and frustrated drivers is like negotiating an emotional obstacle course.

Faulty mechanics, bad weather, badly maintained road surfaces and shoddy driver behaviour are just some of the contributory factors to road traffic accidents which are often given as reasons for a crash. Studies show, however, that usually it's the way a driver drives that causes an accident and contributes directly to the severity of the incident.

Aggressive and careless driver behaviour

The truth is that most serious and fatal accidents are caused by aggressive drivers and people driving way too fast. Steps can be taken to improve driver performance and to make sure your road performance is effective, attentive and doesn't cause harm to anyone else.

An AA study undertaken in 1995 showed that road rage, including tailgating, obscene gestures and verbal or physical abuse, was common. Reacting to road rage also caused more car accidents and personal injuries. Read more about road rage at www.roadrage.org.uk

If you are involved in a road rage incident, it's important to remember three things. Stay calm, don't react and don't retaliate. Diffuse the situation if possible. Keep your car locked and don't get out of the car. Call the police if the driver is threatening you physically or trying to damage the car while you're in it. Get away from the driver and the car threatening you as quickly as you can.

If you want to register your frustration about a particular driver without taking out your anger while you're on the road, make a note of the car number plate and visit www.ratethatdriver.co.uk to lodge their car and say why you think they were driving recklessly. And if you really want to change your driving habits to become more responsible, find out what people are saying about your car and driving habits by entering your number plate details on the website.

To send out good messages to the rest of the UK's driving public, consider the following plan to improve your driver behaviour and cause fewer road traffic accidents:

Guide to becoming a responsible road-user

Work out exactly where you are going and how long it will take you to get there before you set off to make sure that you allow sufficient time for your journey

Don't speed excessively if you are late

If you don't have one, buy a satellite navigating system for your car and use it properly on every journey. Buy a satellite navigating system that also checks the speed limit and lets you know when speed cameras are about to appear

Drive under the speed limit. If you need to go faster, stay on the motorway

Take care around cautious road users and don't intimidate slow drivers who are keeping to the road limit

Stay calm and listen to relaxing music while you drive

Make sure your brakes, exhaust system, tyres and steering all work properly

Keep to the maintenance and MOT schedule for your vehicle

Maintain your vehicle properly in difficult weather conditions

Slow down for pedestrians and other road users like horse riders

Pay attention, be observant and read signs carefully to avoid missing turns and shooting off in the wrong direction at a roundabout

Know the motorway system and main road infrastructure of Britain so that you instinctively know which are the quickest routes

Be a polite driver - let other people go first

If you spot debris or if there is excessive rain on the road, slow down

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