Many of us know what it's like to get angry while behind the wheel, either at being stuck in traffic or over the actions of another motorist. While we might mutter some expletives under our breath or beep a horn to let off some steam, the vast majority of us would leave it at that.
But, in some cases, drivers have gone way too far and even ended up in court after seeing red. One driver who became stuck in roadworks angrily sped away and hit a child, while another furious motorist followed a cyclist and ran him over.
Here are some of the recent road rage cases to come before Manchester's courts.
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Richard Allan
Allan mowed down a 12-year-old boy, losing his temper after getting stuck in roadworks. He made a U-turn and hit the boy shortly after, suffering life changing head injuries.
After the crash, Allan, 38, tried to cover his tracks by taking his Ford Focus to a scrap merchant.
"He was seen driving recklessly before the crash and became impatient in the roadworks, making a U-turn and driving the opposite direction," Police Constable Phil Drummond, of GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said after the case.
"This incident is a stark reminder of the consequences of dangerous driving and could have resulted in the death of a young boy."
Allan, of Tensing Fold, Dukinfield, pleaded guilty to failing to stop, failing to report a road traffic collision, perverting the course of justice and dangerous driving. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years, and banned from driving for 51 months.
Alan Moult
“It’s not worth it," Moult's wife told him as the red mist descended. Moult, 74, ran down a cyclist in a ‘moment of madness’, after the victim had spat on his car.
Moult was driving his Land Rover Freelander in Stockport when the cyclist collided with his vehicle. The cyclist then put his hand on the bonnet, before continuing forward.
In a furious rage, Moult shouted at him “you f****** t**t” before swapping lanes and driving after him. Moult's wife, in the passenger seat of the Land Rover, told her husband: "It’s not worth it, please don’t get in any trouble... please don’t get in any conversation with him, you could end up in prison or bloody court - it’s not worth it.”
But he continued to follow the cyclist. Shortly after they became involved in a row, and the cyclist spat towards the car. Moult then drove at the cyclist, knocked him down and ran him over.
Moult, of of Ashfield Road, Davenport, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and was jailed for 18 months.
Lewis Cook
A dad was blinded in one eye after a thug punched him following a petty road rage row. Cook, 35, had been tailgating his victim in Monsall, gesturing, shaking his fist and throwing objects at his car.
The victim stopped at the side of the road, and shortly after Cook began attacking him. He suffered a severely damaged retina, and despite extensive surgery he lost the sight in his left eye.
Manchester Crown Court heard he faces further surgery for a badly damaged nose, with fears he may go blind in the other eye. Cook was jailed for three years, after admitting causing grievous bodily harm.
"I cannot even look at myself in the mirror," the victim said. "I have lost my eye, my job and my happiness. I walk with a cane now and my life will never be the same again."
The judge, Recorder Michael Smith, said: "Road rage is a phenomenon that we encounter more and more often these days. Those who drive will face frequent encounters that make us angry. Some will get angry but very few of us will get angry and violent.
"Road rage is absolutely unacceptable in society."
Mohammed Khan
Khan broke a man's jaw after being confronted about driving the wrong way down a one way street. Mohsin Wazir was driving in the opposite direction on the Bolton street, and told Khan to 'take care' as there were children playing in the street.
Khan, 43, pulled over and told Mr Wazir: "I'm going to kick the f*** out of you." A passenger in Khan's car tried to diffuse the situation, but he punched Mr Wazir in the face, knocking him down to the ground.
He suffered a fractured his jaw in two places. Khan, of Wigan Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to section 20 assault and was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years.
"Mr Wazir was quite entitled to speak to you the way he did," Judge Tom Gilbart told the defendant at Bolton Crown Court. "Your behaviour has let down your children and your grandchildren."
Sam Dymond
Dymond slammed his van into a motorist after she had beeped her horn because of how slow he had been driving. Dymond was driving a white van at about 9mph during the morning rush hour in Ashton-under-Lyne.
After sounding her horn, the van stopped at lights and Dymond shouted at her saying: "F***ing s***- you dirty s***."
When the lights turned to green, she tried to overtake Dymond but he swerved into her path. Dymond drove around a block to manoeuvre himself behind the woman.
He then repeatedly beeped his horn, before pulling alongside her in traffic. His front seat passenger spat onto the woman's car.
When she got out to take pictures, the van moved off 'at speed' and hit her car. He then drove at the woman, who went over the bonnet and ended up on the road.
The victim was lucky to escape with only with soreness to her neck and shoulders, and bruising to her legs, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
The judge, Miss Recorder Bex QC, told the defendant: "You drove at her in order to get away and you didn't care whether she was injured or not."
Dymond, 31, of Knott Lane, Oldham, was jailed for ten months and two weeks, after he admitted dangerous driving, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of failing to attend court.
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