How road rage goes out of control

INDIO, CALIF. (KESQ)- Two recent road-rage incidents involving guns are putting a spotlight on how quickly frustration behind the wheel can turn dangerous.

The California Highway Patrol said it is not seeing an increase in road rage compared with previous years - including incidents involving weapons. Officers say crashes caused by road rage are not common, but when they do happen, they can involve intentional impacts that could lead to felony charges.

Seargent Abe Plata of the Indio Police Department said, "Motorists get annoyed with other drivers who maybe change lanes in front of them or driving too slow. They get very angry and they'll start following them or pull up next to him and start yelling things at them. ”

One study shows that 34 percent of drivers admit to tailgating on purpose, and 32 percent of drivers say they've used rude gestures or honked out of anger, according to Nextbase.

In California, there isn't a standalone crime called road rage, but police say that behavior can lead to serious chargers.

The main takeaway for drivers: If someone is aggressively following or confronting you, don’t engage. Get out of the way and call 911.