RICHMOND, Va. -- As a 41-year-old is in the hospital after being thrown from his ATV Monday night, CBS 6 is learning more about the dangers of riding those types of vehicles.
For those who ride, they'll tell you ATVs are a fun experience whether on trails in the woods, a dirt track, or the drag strip. But, the key to being safe anytime you ride, experts say, starts with wearing a helmet.
At 23-years-old, Cole Henry is now semi-retired from his ATV racing days. Now he rides just for fun, but always with a helmet.
"It's such a cheap item, it's like the whole seat belt thing, but it's ten times as important," Henry said.
So, when he hears about an accident where the rider didn't have a helmet on, he says that it is way too commonplace.
"I think it happens way too often," Henry explained.
Henry knows first-hand that a helmet saved his life.
"I've been in the situation too many times in my life where I know I've been hit hard enough, to where if I didn't have a helmet on, it would have killed me and I've got proof of that," Henry said.
At Commonwealth PowerSports in Prince George County a new ATV runs from $5,000 to $14,000.
"A good safe helmet, starts at about $80," said James Risley, of Commonwealth Powersports
Risley says every sale of an ATV comes with the recommendation to purchase a helmet and for the buyer to take an ATV Safety Institute Class.
"The manufacturers actually feel so strongly about it, not only do they support the ASI, but they will pay for you to go take the class when you buy a new ATV," Risley explained.
And with more adults on ATVs than kids, safety isn't always their first concern.
"Adults unfortunately are much less likely to wear their safety gear, their helmets, their gloves, long sleeves, pants, over the ankle boots, all the stuff that protects your body," Risley said.
