drama on the road!

In the car, Paula driving (me and Tim in the car). This cab behind us was crossing the lane to our side so abruptly, almost hit our car's butt. You know driver's rage-->Paula got so pissed right then, just swearing quietly in a joking way. Tim (sitting in the driver's seat) got pissed too, what kinda driver is sitting in that cab? (that driver also honked mad times too, really?)

Tim yelled: "watch it buddy!" (cab still behind us)

The cab drove to the lane next to our right, now we're window to window. 

Cab driver: "F*ck u" (wow that rly got Tim pissed, he got the guts to do that?)

Tim now sticking up his middle finger, "get a real job" (ouch that really got him)

phew that conversation is over. and cab was still on the lane to the right but now behind us, slowing down bcs of traffic and the red light. 

O man, he caught up again, now same distance as before. window to window. awkward and both cars were filled with anger and rage. 

cab driver: "huh! u think its funny" in a ugly tone

Tim: "go eat your curry"  (hard to understand what he was saying bcs of his accent)

cab driver: "what?! u having fun? huh!?! u think ur funny" in an even higher voice. 

at that moment, i wasnt even quiet sure what he was saying. 1st experience like that. i mean i was afraid, but something like this had never happened. i actually got my seatbelt fastened. then again, what could he do? stop in the middle of the road/highway and argue with us? 

here's the highlight: he drove in the same lane as us, in the front. (literally, right in front of our car) now, im like holy sh*t....

the cab driver stepped on the brake for a second and kept going. but on the small highway, we could have almost hit his car! 

Paula: "what?! he want us to hit his car?" 

we were no longer going in the same direction anymore, but that was an interesting night (well 5 minutes) in the car. 

When I'm a driver, would I get that kind of rage too? Is it just like pouring more oil on fire when both sides are verbally hitting each other? In a situation like that, the one to step down would make the other feel more superior. There doesn't seem like there's a clear and smart solution in sight.