Attacked

That's my point exactly. If you wanna get angry then fine, but what happens when you get angry with a proper nutter? That nutter also happens to be driving a car, you're on a bike? Then maybe you get chased with a bat or worse, like some people have mentioned. Did you make them reconsider? Nope. Did you achieve anything? Nope. Did you endanger yourself? Yeah.

Did you achieve anything? Maybe.
Did you get their plates? Yep.
Did you report them for attempted murder at the local police station? Yep.

Job fucking done.
The cops might not do shit, but that fuck head's details are on record so if he does something again to another cyclist, he/she has a prior mark against their name.