Do you often find yourself a target for road rage? Are you a victim of tailgating, flashing highlights, and horn-honking? The main thing to remember when driving is to clearly broadcast to other drivers what you intend to do at all times. This may be difficult, considering you can't speak at length with other drivers, but there are many tools at your disposal. Let other drivers know what you're going to do.

Please note: This article is targeted at countries where driving takes place on the right. For countries where driving takes place on the left, the words 'right' and 'left' may have to be interchanged.

[edit] Steps

Drive consistently. Don't speed up and slow down for no reason, don't make one turn fast and the next slow. Consistent driving, whether more aggressive or less, is the best way to allow other drivers to accurately predict what you're going to do next. Additionally drive consistent to the surrounding traffic. By driving inconsistently, you risk the general safety of others around you and you may also risk getting cited for one of many traffic violations. Recognize that everything works best when traffic flows in a natural, balanced, and predictable way. This is the single most important concept behind not annoying other drivers.
Match the speed of surrounding traffic, within reason. If surrounding traffic is driving just slightly over the speed limit (i.e. 7 MPH over) don't impede and drive at speed with the traffic. However, if they are driving excessively over the speed limit, get in the right lane and stay out of their way. If there is no right lane, to pull into continue along at a speed which is over the limit, but is within reason. The other traffic can then attempt to pass naturally. If you attempt to match their speed, you risk at least getting a traffic ticket for speeding and the officer is not likely going to accept the excuse that you were "just keeping speed with traffic", especially if you're the lead car. In general, you should drive close to the speed limit unless conditions demand that all drivers slow down. When you must drive more slowly than others (looking for an address or when your vehicle is having mechanical difficulty), consider using your hazard flashers. If passing is difficult and you're holding up traffic, pull over from time to time to let others get by. They'll thank you for it (or at least will no longer be annoyed).
Don't tailgate. Ever. It's completely unnecessary, highly annoying and quite dangerous. Some people will have a psychological reaction to tailgating that will cause them to slow down if you tailgate them, in fact, the DMV actually recommends slowing down if being tailgated so as to create a space cushion in case of emergency. If the vehicle in front is traveling slowly in the passing lane, be patient. Do not flash your headlights while tailgating as this is viewed by many drivers as an act of aggressive driving and very rude. In certain areas of the United States, aggressive actions such as these are monitored by surveillance cameras and ticketed accordingly. If you have legitimate need to pass and there is only one lane per direction of traffic (i.e. the vehicle in front is going at an excessively slow speed and there is slightly heavy oncoming traffic) and you cannot pass naturally, back off to a safe distance (if you aren't already) and briefly flash your lights (no more than twice should be sufficient). At this point, the driver in the vehicle ahead may understand your intentions better and pull off slightly to allow you to pass with greater ease, if not just continue attempting to pass naturally while not tailgating. If you find yourself catching up to vehicles ahead of you continually, then you're probably going too fast relative to traffic around you.
Always check your mirrors and your blind spot before passing as there may be someone else behind you driving at a much higher speed. Should this be the case, let them pass you first. Once they have passed you, continue to pass the other vehicle as planned should conditions allow you to both pass. Always drive sufficiently faster than the vehicle you overtake and return to the right lane as soon as possible.
Use your turn signal lights to signal your intentions to other drivers so your actions don't come as a surprise. Failing to do so can be a source of serious agrivation to other drivers. Signal before you turn, change lanes, merge, or exit the freeway...every time, even when you don't think it's necessary. If you're on a fast moving road with a fair amount of traffic, turn on your signal much sooner, to let other drivers know you are turning, and to give them ample time to pass. If you're making a left turn at an intersection, the drivers behind you will appreciate advance warning. If you need to slow down to make a turn or pull over, use your turn signal before pressing the brake pedal. This will give other drivers advance notice that you'll be slowing down soon. When you're finished making your turn or lane change, make sure your turn signal is off. If someone is performing a reasonable merge or lane change in front of you (timely and using a turn signal), let them in.
When you need to use the brake to slow down, put your foot on it and decelerate smoothly. Frequent tapping of the brake pedal will make drivers around you unsure of whether you're actually stopping. On the other hand, don't brake at the absolute last possible second. Give drivers behind you plenty of time to notice that you're braking and to do likewise.
Accelerate with purpose. This is not to say you should floor the gas and take off like mad. Just don't dawdle, especially when the light turns green, or when it's your turn at the stop sign. When you are changing lanes, do not slow down unless traffic demands it. In fact, speed up a little bit.
When pulling into moving traffic, time your move carefully and accelerate quickly so you don't force oncoming drivers to hit their brakes. Be patient and wait for a big opening, then hit it! If the traffic is moving at 60 mph and it takes you a leisurely 30 seconds to get up to speed, you'll need almost half a mile of empty highway to avoid endangering or irritating other drivers.
Stop at the stop line, especially at intersections with traffic lights. Stopping well short of the line can be confusing to other drivers - is that vehicle stopped for the light or has it broken down? - and you may fail to trigger the sensors that change the traffic lights. Stopping beyond the line won't get you to your destination much faster but it will interfere with other vehicles, especially those trying to turn left onto your street.
When you are moving into a turn lane in preparation for making a turn, signal your intention, change into the turn lane, then slow down - in that order. If there are multiple turn lanes, pick one and stay in it all the way throughout the turn. Drifting into an adjacent lane is likely to force another driver to take evasive action.
When driving at speeds under the limit, try to drive as close to the limit as possible., unless conditions demand otherwise (i.e. that all drivers slow down due to heavy traffic, inclement weather, etc. or speed up due to traffic flow, improved weather conditions, etc). Even if there are passing lanes, stay close to the speed of other vehicles unless there is a real need to go slower. When you must drive more slowly than others (looking for an address or when your vehicle is having mechanical difficulty), use your hazard flashers. If passing is difficult and you're holding up traffic, pull over from time to time to let others get by. They'll thank you for it.
If there is more than one clear lane and you are in the right lane behind someone going a few miles under the limit, do not honk or speed by and cut them off to make a point that they are going too slow. The speed limit is technically an upper limit, and people are not required to drive any faster. If you need to go as fast or faster than the limit, pass when it is safe to do so.
When driving on a multi-lane road, do not block other traffic by driving right next to another vehicle at the same speed. Not only does this prevent faster traffic from flowing past, the driver next to you will be continuously distracted by your vehicle in the corner of their eye. This problem is happening more and more because some drivers don't understand how to pass properly while driving on cruise control. If you are about to pass another vehicle while on cruise, and your speed is just barely faster, gently depress the accelerator to slightly increase your speed temporarily so the pass is completed in a reasonable amount of time. The shorter the time you are alongside a vehicle you are passing, the safer the pass.
Do not drive in the left lane continually unless heavy traffic or upcoming turns demand it. It is the passing lane and is not intended for general traffic flow. If you're in the left lane and driving faster than the vehicles on your right, watch for vehicles driving faster than you coming from behind. Pull over so they too can pass.
Stay out of the blind spots of other vehicles as much as possible, which are generally the right and left rear corners depending on the vehicle.
If you inadvertently cause a situation that annoys other drivers, and they honk the horn or indicate their displeasure in some other way, do not gesture wildly, honk your own horn or jam the brakes. Accept your short-lived punishment, indicate to the other driver that you are sorry for your infraction, and move on.
In heavy highway traffic, pick a lane and stay in it. Over the course of many miles, all lanes will go approximately the same speed. Excessive lane changing will not get you to your destination any faster, and ultimately only makes traffic run more slowly overall. It also increases your chances of a collision.
If you are on the freeway and it looks like the vehicle next to you is trying to get over, it probably is because they are trying to get over. Speeding up so they can't get into your lane is just childish, and it may mean you have made them miss their exit. Unless in fact they are switching toward the middle of the freeway. Then it may mean they intend to pass a vehicle in front of them, and may not have seen you. Use caution and allow them to merge if they continue to come into your lane.
If you are behind someone who is trying to switch lanes, don't try to pass them on that side to crowd them out. A signal to change lanes is not an invitation to pass. Some drivers are very particular about this "rule" and will get over anyway, regardless of whether or not they have room, and it is a good way to rear-end a driver, which would be your fault even if they slam on the brakes as soon as they are in front of you.
Recognize that highway on-ramps and off-ramps are there so the flow of traffic will not be interrupted. Therefore you do not have to slow down on the freeway to get off - that's what the off-ramp is for. Conversely, the on-ramp gives you enough space to hopefully reach the typical speed limit of 55 miles per hour so that other drivers on the freeway do not need to slam on their brakes.
Anticipate highway on-ramp incoming traffic. Pay attention to signs indicating interchanges and on-ramps. If you have the opportunity, safely shift lanes to allow incoming traffic to merge in a clear lane. This will help prevent bottlenecks and backups caused by merging traffic being unable to enter the flow.
Passing on the right of traffic is very dangerous and also illegal in some places. If you have to pass a vehicle driving below the speed limit in the left (or passing) lane, you have two choices: pass them on the right (which is dangerous and sometimes illegal) or pull back and just drive at the slower speed. Do not tailgate them (see "Don't tailgate" step). Absolutely never pass on the shoulder of the road or blindly when there is the potential for oncoming traffic (i.e. on a state highway with 2-way traffic). This is not only illegal, but could result in you being personally responsible for the death of a pedestrian walking on the side of the road because their vehicle broke down.

[edit] Tips

Be sure your vehicle is fit for the road. Not having working brake lights is a bad thing. All turn signals need to light up, otherwise using them does not help. Most states have laws that prohibit driving vehicles that are not fit for the road.
Adjust your rear view mirrors to minimize any blind spots. Your side mirrors should be adjusted so that you can almost see the side of your vehicle in the mirror. If a side mirror is adjusted so that you can see directly behind you, most of the mirror will be taken up by the side of your vehicle, and your blind spot is much larger. Alternately, novice drivers might find it a little easier to adjust their mirror positions so they can see a tiny sliver of their vehicle on the extreme sides of their mirrors even without leaning in either direction; this can help give an idea of the relative positions of other vehicles in relation to their own. However, as this increases the sizes of the blind spots, as a driver gains experience the mirrors should be adjusted to one of the above methods.
Make sure you have appropriate visibility from the driver's seat.
Pay attention to road signs and traffic signals.
Be sure to look ahead towards the horizon rather than directly in front of your vehicle. As soon as you see a sign indicating that the lane you are in is ending or there is an obstruction that will require you to change lanes, prepare to get out of your lane. Gently modify your speed to match the drivers in the other lane and choose your entry point. Do not stay in the ending lane at full speed until the last possible moment and expect that the drivers who have planned ahead for this change in lane configuration are going to let you merge easily. On the other hand, don't force your vehicle out of a lane at the first sign of it ending, either - plan, signal, merge when it is safe to do so.
Don't panic. It is important to drive safely, as traffic accidents are the greatest annoyance of all. If you are not comfortable driving at high speeds, drive more slowly and avoid highways. Stay in the right lane and use cruise control, if your vehicle is so equipped.
Drive with your headlights on in bad weather. (Rule: wipers on - headlights on.) A vehicle is much more visible to other drivers when the headlights are on. Many folks these days drive with headlights on at all times. (It helps if you have automatic shutoff or a headlight buzzer!) Don't worry about burning out your headlights - they are much cheaper than even a slight accident. Also note that parking lights are for parking, not for bad weather driving. Parking lights have less than 5% of the visibility of headlights. Fog lights are usually not necessary in bad weather either (use only when visibility is seriously reduced, i.e below 300ft), many times they just make things worse for you and blind others even further, the same goes for high beams.
Don't use the horn to point out driving errors. It's a tool to alert drivers to a situation that requires immediate attention. It is not a game show buzzer.
If you miss an exit or are about to miss it, don't panic and cross traffic. Just take the next exit and loop back around. Never back up on a highway, it is incredibly dangerous and you will only add another couple minutes to simply turn around at the next exit.
NEVER try to "beat the light." If it turns yellow and you have enough space to stop, then stop. Cyclists, pedestrians, and even other drivers expect you to be completely stopped by the time the light turns red. You endanger yourself and others by running yellow lights--only to save a minute or two--it simply isn't worth it.
Don't block other traffic trying to merge or cross busy intersections. Time your entry into an intersection so that you don't get caught blocking it once the light turns red (i.e. "don't block the box") When lanes merge, traffic should work like a zipper. You let one person in front of you, the person behind you lets one person in front of them.
If you are turning onto a 2 lane road (one lane in each direction) from a side road, STOP at the stop sign, even if the way is clear. This is more courteous for drivers who are already on the road that may have to slow down until you accelerate to the proper speed. You will also avoid overlooking any vehicles with a lower profile.
When turning left onto a road with multiple lanes in each direction, turn FROM the left TO the left. This will allow room for drivers turning right. If you are on a road with multiple left turn lanes, stay in your designated lane during the ENTIRE turn. Do not change lanes in the middle of the intersection.
Do not "rubberneck" if there is an accident, a police officer who has somebody stopped, or a vehicle on the side of the road. If you want to look at scenery, pull over at an appropriate spot to look at it. Rubbernecking can cause accidents and slowing down to look at road-side objects will slow traffic down.
Turning lanes and breakdown lanes are not passing lanes. Using them as such is apt to provoke retaliatory action by other drivers who feel wronged. Conversely, if someone else does it just let it slide; think of how much longer it'll take to clean up the mess if you get into an accident.
Learn what the yield sign means. You don't have to stop if there is no traffic coming. That is what stop signs are for.
Minimize all distractions while driving, this is especially true of self-initiated distractions as many drivers are not very tolerant of certain distracting behaviors. Furthermore, your distraction could cause any of a number of dangerous situations resulting in varying amounts of damage and/or injury to you and others. For example, if your speaker system is so loud as to drown out all nearby sounds (especially sirens), turn it down to a more reasonable level. Also, if you have a cell phone, turn it off while driving even if the conversation and act of holding the phone doesn't mentally distract you because you still limit your physical abilities to drive (either you're holding the phone in you hand and have limited your physical response, or you're cradling it with your shoulder and have limited your ability to view your surroundings). If you must make/receive calls while driving make use of "hands-free" technologies (i.e. speaker phones, in-car phones, wireless headset) to minimize distraction to the point where talking on the phone is no less distracting than talking with someone in the car with you.

[edit] Warnings

Avoid doing other things while driving.
Never wait until the very last second to leave for work, school or errands. Rushing will likely cause you to drive erratically. Allow extra travel time, in case there is an accident or road work on your route to your destination.
If road conditions are such that you are afraid to drive, don't. Pull off and wait, or stay home.
Being tired or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (including many over-the-counter cold remedies) greatly increases the likelihood that you will hurt yourself or someone else. Stop the car in a safe place and wait until the effects have worn off.
If you are annoyed yourself, you are more likely to annoy other drivers. Relax, take it easy and leave room for other drivers that are more confused about driving than you are.
Do not use the shoulder or breakdown lane as a traffic lane. Do not enter a turn lane before pavement striping allows.
All Wheel Drive does not ensure safety. In poor weather take the appropriate precautions whether you have all wheel drive or not. The same goes for 4 wheel drive.
Semi Trucks are a lot bigger than even the largest SUV, and the drivers often have limited viewing areas to the side and behind them. Give them space. They also have a LOT more weight (sometimes 40 times the weight of an average car) to stop. If you are approaching a stoplight, DO NOT pull in front of a semi-truck. Semi-truck drivers estimate the amount of room they need to stop. If you pull in front of them, it changes their margins and they must brake harder, possibly causing an accident.
If you have to stop your vehicle for some reason not related to a stoplight, stop sign, or traffic in front of you, pull over to the side of the road, or preferably off the road, to avoid being hit. This includes: 1) saying hi to an acquaintance 2) letting someone out of the car 3) picking someone up 4) asking for directions 5) realizing that you just missed your turn 6) wondering where your turn is 7) realizing you just got on the highway going the wrong way.
When stopped with the engine running on any road for a non-traffic reason like those above, turn on your four-way/hazard flashers to let other drivers know you are an obstacle and that they should use caution when approaching you, even if you are completely out of any lanes of traffic. This is also a courtesy that allows other drivers to know that they are allowed to drive around you if it is safe; without your hazard lights on, drivers may think you are waiting for something to get off the road that they can't see.
Any steps or tips given here should be validated against local driving laws.