More than 17 million cases of road rage have been handled by police in China this year as authorities struggle to teach drivers in the world's largest car market better road etiquette.

On the eve of National Traffic Safety Day, which fell on Wednesday, the Ministry of Public Security described road rage as a major traffic safety issue.

The number of traffic accidents caused by road rage reached 80,000 in 2013, an increase of 4.9 percent year-on-year. Last year saw the rate rise by 2.4 percent.